Rabie Ridge extended public works programme success at risk
Despite the success of the EPWP in Rabie Ridge, residents fear that, without long-term solutions, Rabie Ridge could slip back into the same cycle of dirt.
Just months after teams cleaned the streets and removed illegal dumping sites in Rabie Ridge, piles of rubbish and overgrown bushes are once again taking over parts of the community.
The return of illegal dumping and growing safety concerns has left many residents frustrated, fearing that the progress made through the extended public works programme (EPWP) could go to waste.
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The environmental clean-up programme, launched earlier this year by Gauteng MEC for Environment Ewan Botha, was initially expected to run for one month before being extended to three months.
Community leader George Henry said residents are now worried that the progress made through the EPWP is quickly being reversed. “Illegal dumping is destroying our communities in Rabie Ridge and Ivory Park.
The open space between Boshoff and Jay Crescent has once again become overgrown and dangerous. Criminal activity is now hiding in these bushes, and residents are living in fear.”
Henry added that two bodies were discovered in the area earlier this year, raising serious safety concerns ahead of the winter season.
He called on the department of agriculture to assess the land and transform it into a productive agricultural space that could create jobs, improve food security, and benefit local youth.
Residents also raised concerns over another illegal dumping hotspot near Tuinfluiter Crescent and Tarentaal Road, describing it as a breeding ground for rats, disease, and alleged drug-related activity.
Also read: Sewage leaks, litter and dumping plague Vorna Valley
Henry praised the EPWP for stepping in to clean affected areas, but stressed that clean-up campaigns alone are not enough without long-term intervention from authorities.
“We want this land reclaimed for the community, whether as a youth development hub, business space for entrepreneurs, or simply a clean and safe environment. Rabie Ridge is not a dumpsite.”
On May 15, illegal dumping near residential homes in Rabie Ridge
Despite the programme ending, Henry expressed gratitude to the nearly 100 EPWP participants who worked to restore dignity to the community.
“I have seen firsthand how this programme changed lives. Young people were taken off the streets, families benefited, and real change was visible. Rabie Ridge has been neglected for years, but this project proved that communities are willing to stand together and make a difference.”
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