Illegal dumping along Long Road in Northcliff Ext 20 has become a persistent and deeply frustrating eyesore.
It is raising serious concerns about public health, safety, and the overall dignity of the surrounding community. Despite repeated clean-up efforts, waste continues to reappear, turning the site into a recurring hotspot.

Read more: Northcliff dumping crisis spirals as Long Road hotspot exposes enforcement failures

Residents, increasingly fed up with what they describe as a cycle of reactive clean-ups rather than sustainable solutions, have now turned to collective action. A community petition has been launched to intensify pressure on authorities to intervene more decisively.

Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe said the situation is more complex than it appears, noting that she has previously written to the provincial government in an attempt to escalate the matter. She, along with residents, is urging the city to formally declare the site a priority area, implement visible policing and enforcement, ensure scheduled clean-ups, and work collaboratively with residents, who are actively trying to maintain the open space. They have also called for engagement with the Gauteng department of education, which owns the land, to ensure proper maintenance, security, and management to deter further dumping. “This issue has a direct impact on the quality of life, public health, and safety of residents in the area.” Fourie-Shawe added that a co-ordinated and sustained intervention is urgently required.

Also read: Illegal dumping causes infrastructure damage

Upon inquiry regarding the matter, the Gauteng department of education (GDE) redirected the publication to the Gauteng department of environment for comment. Acting director of the Gauteng department of environment Andrew Mathabathe said the department strongly condemns all forms of illegal dumping, describing such activities as unlawful and harmful to both people and the environment. He confirmed that the department had not previously received formal complaints about the specific site, but would now bring the matter to the attention of the relevant municipal authorities. He noted that while the department conducts broader environmental compliance monitoring through environmental management inspectors, responsibility for waste collection and managing illegal dumping hotspots lies with local municipalities.

Mathabathe said no direct enforcement action had been taken at the site due to the absence of prior complaints, adding that enforcement typically falls under municipal waste management and by-law units. He attributed the persistence of illegal dumping to factors such as poor waste disposal practices, lack of public awareness, and enforcement challenges, including difficulties in identifying offenders and limited resources for continuous monitoring.

The department has committed to referring the matter to the City of Johannesburg for urgent intervention and will follow up to ensure it is addressed, while emphasising that long-term solutions will depend on sustained municipal action and community co-operation.

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