Fed up with illegal dumping in Ward 2, Bebsie Cronje and a team of DA volunteers dedicated Friday afternoon to cleaning the ward.
A vacant plot used as an illegal dumping site on Waterbuck Avenue was first on the list.
“I have requested a municipal skip for the area, but have not received any response from the relevant departments,” Cllr Cronje claimed.
As the deputy chairperson of community services, Cllr Cronje was adamant the land would not become a health hazard.
Rubbish, including discarded furniture, household waste and garden refuse, was removed from the land.
“It is unacceptable to think people can dump like this. I took the cost of the clean-up upon myself, although I won’t be able to pay the whole time.”
Cllr Cronje said future clean-up campaigns were in the pipeline. However, she encouraged the community to refrain from illegal dumping as it had a negative impact on the town.
“While the land in Waterbuck Avenue is privately owned, the municipality should consider taking private land owners on in the future if they allowed illegal dumping. It could be an extra source of revenue that could be pumped back into Newcastle,” she concluded.
