Illegal dumping on Malacca Road continues unabated

ILLEGAL dumping on Ryde Place and Malacca Road has continued despite efforts to keep the area clean. In 2015 the City spent more than a million rand to erect a 1.5 metre high concrete palisade fence (topped with barbed wire) – spanning the length of Malacca Road and Ryde Place. It was thought at the time the fence would help with security and illegal dumping at the time, however it has failed to hamper dumpers and criminals.

Last week Northglen News was called to an illegal dumping scene to Malacca Road by Glenhills Ratepayers Association member, Robin Candy, who was shocked to find hundreds of clothes littering the entrance to the settlement. Boxes of clothes were strewn across the pedestrian walkway with many of the items containing mould.

Candy expressed outrage over the eThekwini Municipality’s alleged ‘lack of interest’ in enforcing the City’s bylaws.

Read also: Ryde Place road condition deteriorates

“The dumping has continued unabated on these roads and in this latest incident, I suspect these clothes were part of a deceased person’s estate and the items were just dumped on the side of the road. The Malacca Road dump does not accept clothing items which may have led to the person responsible to dumping it at the entrance to the settlement.

“The residents of Malacca Informal Settlement are partly to blame for the illegal dumping particularly at the intersection of Ryde Place and Malacca Road but in this case it looks like the items were just thrown off the back of a vehicle. If I notice that someone has dumped illegally I riffle through the stuff, and often I have found documentation which I have used to track people down. In some cases I have tried to report this to the authorities, in others I have asked the individuals or companies involved to come and remove the rubbish,” he said.

Recently Candy confronted a resident in the area whose domestic waste, including bills, were found dumped in a heap on Ryde Place.

Read also: Councillor bemoans state of Glenhills road

When he has tried to report the illegal activity he said the officials made no effort to collect the relevant documentation (example affidavits) or proof from him.

Ward councillor, Pete Graham, concurred with Candy saying he too had attempted to prosecute illegal dumpers but it was all futile.

“What is concerning is at a council meeting four months ago, it was agreed upon a rubbish skip would be placed at all informal settlements and the frequency of clean-ups would increase, however this has not happened. I want to see on the spot fines being issued because the current system is far too tedious and actually deters residents from reporting illegal dumping,” he said.

For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram