Dumping site hampers business

A vendor, struggling to make ends meet, says business is tough and she blames the dumping site next to her business.
Yvonne has been selling food on Devil’s Corner in Lekhele Street in Ikageng since January. She describes her experiences as often unbearable.
Since Yvonne specialises in selling freshly-made chicken feet, she says people are sometimes put off by the smell of the dumping site, causing her to lose business.
“I get a lot of people who are willing to support me, but, due to the unbearable smell, they often think twice and would rather buy in a ‘cleaner’ area,” she explained.

Having given up on the municipality, Yvonne says she regularly pays boys from within the neighbourhood R5 to help her clean the area but it doesn’t help much.
“After about two days, the place fills up with all kinds of waste again,” she said.
Yvonne is at her workstation from 9:00 to 18:00 daily, without fail. She says she witnesses residents littering in that area. “When I ask them not to litter there, they tell me I don’t own the place and they can do as they please,” she said.
Yvonne added that, because she doesn’t pay rent or have the support of the municipality, she has no choice but to accept the situation.
“I choose to sell here because it’s a busy area, which makes it easier to get customers. Many of us in Ikageng sell the same thing,” she explained.
Yvonne urges members of the community to support her in keeping her work area clean as it is what puts food on her family’s table.
The Herald asked the municipality for comment but had received nothing by the time of going to print.