Resident pleads with municipality to clean dumping site in his area

After many attempts to get the municipality to clean the dumping site in his area, Buti Jacob Masike took his frustrations to Facebook in hopes of being heard.

The 45-year-old asked the municipality to assist them with the cleaning of the illegal dumping site at Thabeng section in Masitenyane street. “Our attempt to ask our councilor has failed,since the beginning of this year, we never get assistance,” the post read. 

According to Masike, the councilor responded to the post and promised that the municipality will be there soon to clear the area. It has been over a month since the response and yet nothing has changed. “ This is nothing new, we have been crying about this site since the beginning of the year,” Masike lamented. 

“ The last time this place was cleaned was on 28 February and they keep telling us that they will come but we don’t hear anything,” he added.

Masike says before the new council they barely had issues with the area being cleaned, the municipality would come every now and again and clear the area. However, now they are being told that their area is considered to be on the outskirts of Ikageng hence the delay to get it cleaned. “ Everytime we ask to have it cleaned, it always has to be a fight,” he said. 

Aside from the horrific stench of the site, Masike is concerned about insects and reptiles that he and his neighbours often find in their yards. “ The other day, my neighbour who lives opposite us, found a snake in his yard, it obviously came from the site,” he said. 

Fortunately for Masike, he is growing garlic in his yard which he believes helps keep the snakes away, however like everyone else around him, he’s not exempted from the small insects that come from the site. 

“My only wish is if the municipality could clear the area and rather turn it into a recreational park, where we will be able to spend time with our families and people would stop throwing their waste here,” he concluded.