Willow Park Manor residents clear illegal dumping along Bush Road riverside
Recent heavy rains exposed piles of dumped rubbish and overgrown vegetation, triggering safety concerns along a local riverbank.
Willow Park Manor residents have cleared illegal dumping and overgrown vegetation along the Bush Road riverside after heavy rainfall exposed waste and created environmental hazards.
The community-led clean-up focused on the Bush Road riverside, where residents raised concerns about dumped waste and severe overgrowth.
According to organiser Lerato Mtombeni, recent rainfall exposed and washed waste into parts of the riverside, causing blockages and raising environmental and safety concerns for the surrounding community.
“We focused on the entire riverside stretch along Bush Road in Willow Park Manor, cleaning from corner to corner,” said Mtombeni.
About 10 people formed the dedicated clean-up team, while other concerned residents joined them to support the initiative and monitor progress.
The team removed waste including clothing, household refuse and burnt electrical cords.
The waste was collected in refuse bags supplied by the metro’s Waste Management Division.
“The bags were collected by the city on the same day, ensuring that the rubbish removed from the riverside did not simply accumulate elsewhere,” said Mtombeni.
Bush Road safety hazard
The clean-up also highlighted the extent of vegetation overgrowth along the riverside.
Mtombeni said large areas of grass and trees had become severely overgrown and that the condition of the vegetation had been reported to the metro to bring it to their attention.
Photo: Supplied
Dirt, litter and ashes
“The overgrown area was also a concern, and this has since been reported to the city for cutting and maintenance,” she said.
She added that residents have also expressed concern that the overgrown sections could become hiding places for criminal activity, adding to concerns about the need to maintain the area.
According to Mtombeni, the clean-up was about more than simply removing rubbish.
“It was also an effort to improve a shared public space and encourage people living in the area to become involved in keeping their surroundings clean,” she said.
City assists with municipal team
Mtombeni said the initiative was part of an ongoing clean-up project and would not end with the recent work along Bush Road.
She added that further clean-up activities are scheduled for October 5 and 6.
A metro worker collecting rubbish bags.
The upcoming initiative is expected to receive additional support from the city’s waste management team, including a TLB to assist with the clean-up.
“The use of machinery is expected to help address areas where waste, vegetation and other material may be difficult to remove manually,” said Mtombeni.
Mtombeni said residents appreciated seeing immediate action and that their complaints were taken seriously.
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