Residents and business owners raise concerns over informal settlements on Old Pretoria Road
Concerns over petty theft, sanitation, and safety have prompted residents and business owners to raise alarm about the informal settlements along Old Pretoria Road.
Frustration from residents and businesses owners continues to grow due to the ongoing informal settlements on Old Pretoria Road in Midrand.
Unauthorized recycling businesses and illegal residents have begun to occupy the main road, which is known to be a busy hub with shops, petrol stations, and public facilities. Residents claim that these informal settlements started in 2023.
There have been constant complaints issued to the ward councillor and the police since, but nothing has been done.
A resident and business owner, Rashaad Rawat, gave us a brief highlight of how these informal settlements have affected his business over the years.
“Because these people have to pass through here whenever they go or come from the informal settlements, over the years they have become a problem to my business. For instance, they come in the shop and steal, then they go to the toilet in the morning whilst everyone is busy to steal the toilet paper and misuse the water.
“The one incident that really got to my business the most is when the gas was stolen, and I had to hire a security guard to watch here overnight.”
Furthermore, because there are perfume factories, petrol stations, and a diesel firm nearby, residents are afraid of fire disasters that could occur as a result of burning certain items during recycling business operations at the informal settlements.
According to Rawat, everyone’s safety is compromised. He had to ask his female employees to work day shifts, and for the male employees to work night shifts, because they were scared to work late due to mugging incidents that have become prominent in the area.
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Another resident, who prefers to be anonymous, shared some of the experiences he had as a result of the informal settlements.
“About a year ago, a cable from our transformer was stolen, which caused it to blow up. We stayed without electricity for weeks and since we also have businesses here, this doesn’t look good for them, which makes us lose out on clients as they won’t do business with us.
“We don’t really have a problem with these people, because we understand that they are doing a good thing for our environment with the recycling, but can it be regulated and done in a proper way, where the councillor gets involved, and has a recycling centre for them.”
The Midrand Reporter contacted Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) for comment regarding the matter. More information will be provided once it has been made available.
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