Elandsfontein residents concerned about uncollected waste and rat infestation
"For residents to do tree felling they must log a call for the parks department to fell and remove the trees via the call centre."
Lorraine Eager of Elandsfontein’s Kruinhof Retirement Village expressed concern about the rubbish collection at the facility.
Tree branches have not been removed for six months since some village members did tree felling.
Eager stated that the area has become a breeding ground for rats.
ALSO READ: Residents of a local retirement centre celebrate Movember
“Rats have already damaged my washing machine and I had to spend R1000 to get it repaired. The repairs are still incomplete.
“The trees are next to our parking space; the rats will start eating our vehicles’ cables. That will cost us extra money, which we do not have.
“We are Sassa beneficiaries, and we don’t have funds for all of these unnecessary expenses. Everyone in the village must maintain their own gardens. Please do not bring rubbish to this parking place.
“Waste is collected on Tuesdays, but the trees are still not picked up. We communicated with our councillor to request someone to remove them, but there was no positive response,” said Eager.
The City of Ekurhuleni was made aware of this situation and yet the problem persists.
City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the municipality provides accommodation, water, electricity, sewage removal, refuse removal, and ad hoc maintenance to residents of facility.
“For residents to do tree felling they must log a call for the parks department to fell and remove the trees via the call centre. They must also inform the Human Settlements Department or inform the ward councillor.
“To control the rat’s manifestation at the facility, waste must be discarded to the provided 240l bins.
ALSO READ: Community welcomed to dementia discussions at local centre
“Residents must at all times avoid illegal dumping because that is the main cause of rodent problems.
“Tenants must inform the Human Settlements Department who in turn contact environmental health practitioners which then attends to the problem.
“Then rodent control will conduct an investigation to determine if rats are there and how to address them,” said Dlamini.
