Residents of the Clay Oven informal settlement, as well as the surrounds in Paulshof, may finally see relief after months of concerns about waste piling up in their area. The issue was raised by residents in the surrounding area, who have continuously complained about environmental health hazards coming from the informal settlement.

On August 28, officials from the Gauteng Department of Agricultural Development, led by MEC Vuyiswa Ramakopa from Rise Mzansi, visited the site, alongside the Lonehill Residents Association (LRA) and community members, to assess the situation.

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The visit came after residents said their repeated complaints to the City of Johannesburg had gone unanswered. Frustrated, they escalated the matter to the Gauteng provincial legislature, which managed to get the department involved within 24 hours.

Lawrence Manaka, constituency and legislative researcher at the Gauteng provincial legislature, said the swift response was a result of community persistence. “Residents had been writing to the city and not getting any sort of response. They then wrote to us. Within 24 hours, we were able to try and assist, by getting the department involved.”

During the oversight visit, Ramakopa’s team confirmed that the site would be included in a clean-up programme. The programme involves clearing illegal dumping sites across the province and transforming them into green spaces.

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“This will be one of the sites they’re going to be cleaning, and then greening the area after,” Manaka said. For residents, the development brings long-awaited hope that Clay Oven will no longer be plagued by unmanaged waste, but, instead, transformed into a cleaner environment.

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