East Rand resident demands that metro put an end to air pollution

An Estera resident is at her wits’ end as she claims the metro and ward councillor is doing nothing to combat the air pollution in the area, Germiston City News reports.

“The smell started sometime last year,” Ester de Lange explained.

“We reported this to the Ward 39 councillor, Alta de Beer, and she said she had also smelt the bad smell.

“She told me that she reported it to the metro but nothing came of it.”

De Lange described the smell like a gas mixed with oil.

“At times it is so bad that you can’t breathe.

“It is especially bad between Laerskool Elsburg to about Wilbers Road.

“We suffer terribly from sinus problems and you can’t afford to open your windows or doors,” de Lange said.

“We have serious issues with air pollution in the southern part of Germiston,” said de Beer when the media contacted her for comment.

“Regularly, I receive complaints about this gas or burning smell.

“On a couple of occasions, I have travelled to Elsburg to establish where this smell is coming from, but it is difficult to pinpoint.

“I have sent several queries to the metro’s Department of Environmental Health and I am still waiting for feedback.”

De Beer has also begun a petition which she plans to hand over to the metro and MMC of Environment and Waste Management.

The petition will seek to get Clr Khosi Mabaso to give urgent attention to the continuous air pollution emanating from Wadeville and surrounding areas.

“I will be driving this issue for the rest of the year as this is a serious concern for the residents staying around the Wadeville area,” said de Beer.