Smokey squatters have been removed

VEE writes:

I just need to make somebody aware of this problem we have at the bottom end of Kosmos Road.

There is an open piece of ground and people have moved in there after building plastic-covered shacks leaning against the outside wall of a house.

That, however, is not the main problem. The woman burns stuff on a weekly basis that gives off an absolutely disgusting smell and actually makes my sinus condition and headaches even worse than what it normally is.

Surely something could be done about this situation but I don’t know whom to contact. The whole area gets contaminated by this smoke and there are little children who have to inhale this filthy air every weekend.

That, together with the rat plague we have there makes it just about unbearable to live there but we unfortunately have no option. These people live there free of charge and contaminate the whole neighbourhood. They also live there without any sanitation facilities or anything.

We, however, bought our houses or are legally renting at very high costs and we have to put up with this mess and contamination.

Themba Gadebe, metro spokesman, replies:

The premises the complainant is referring to belongs to Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. A previous complaint in this regard has been referred to the relevant departments for attention.

During an inspection carried out by the area environmental health practitioner it was found that the squatters have been removed and the premises has been cleaned of all rubble and burned material.

An ongoing rodent control project is being done in the Kempton Park area by the Pest Control Ambassadors.