Glen Austin residents plead with hawkers to clean up

Glen Austin residents are concerned by the littering of hawkers who sell their wares on the corner of Allan and Olifantsfontein roads.

Glen Austin Residents Association chairperson for infrastructure and services, John Mphatsoe took Midrand Reporter to the location on 20 January. Mphatsoe spoke to the vendors and requested them to keep the area clean.

“We are not dismissing them, we saying that they must clean, and those who do not have permits should leave the area and go apply for permits before selling.

“Our biggest problem is that they leave the place dirty by making fires, leaving ash, wood and rubbish lying around, which is problematic to our environment as Glen Austin is a nature conservation area,” said Mphatsoe.

One of the vendors, Nhlanhla Sithole, said she did have a permit but left it at home so it did not get wet on rainy days. “I have been selling here for more than 20 years now. Myself along with the other vendors sold on the open space on the corner of Allan and Olifantsfontein roads but we were told to move because whenever we made fires to cook, the neighbours get affected by the smoke and one of their children is asthmatic.”

She claimed that upon moving to the side of the road, potholes appeared which made it difficult for customers to pull over, so they were told by the authorities to fill the potholes which they did with ashes from the coal.

Metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said he had conveyed the concerns to the superintendent in the area. “Metro police will send officers to investigate the matter,” Minnaar concluded.

Details: Johannesburg Metro Police Department 011 375 5911.