As you drive towards Kaapsehoop, just before reaching the Enos Mabuza turn-off, motorists are welcomed by an array of rubbish next to the road. On numerous occasions, various stakeholders have initiated projects to clean up this particular stretch of road, just to find it in the same horrible state days later.
Upon investigation, Nelspruit Post found that one of the main causes seemed to be vehicle owners washing their cars and drivers who park on the sidewalk and dump their rubbish there.
The problem would not have presented inself if it weren’t for the constant flow of water. At first it was thought that it was a leakage and that fixing it would prevent motorists from washing their vehicles and littering on the spot.
However, this proved not to be the case. “Our ops team investigated the source of the water coming from the drain pipe, and concluded that it was in fact groundwater,” says Mr Richmond Jele, spokesman for Sembcorp Silulumanzi.
Groundwater originating from wetlands, streams or from underground seeps from the ground. The green patch between Leadwood and the Kaapsehoop Road is a natural stream, and that is where it comes from.
Jele says that resolving the issue would cost an enormous amount of money and also destroy the habitat of many species. He adds that this is not the only area in town where this problem is being experienced.
“Fire hydrants all over town are being used illegally to wash vehicles. Precautionary measures like putting on locks have been taken, but these are simply removed. An issue like this seriously needs enforcement of law and issuing of fines.”