An illegal dumpsite in Colbyn that has been frustrating residents in the area for years is slowly growing bigger by the day.
Some complain that the dumpsite, on the corner of Stanza Bopape (previously Church Street) and End Street, is right at the entrance of Pretoria and gives a very poor impression of the city as a whole.
Staff at the Gordon Harris photography building opposite the site expressed disgust at people who felt it was their right to dump there.
“The people who make use of this dumpsite are aggressive and laugh at us when we threaten to phone the metro. They are getting away with it and showing no fear of getting caught . If you consider the measly fine people get when caught, it is understandable that they feel no remorse,” said a staff member.
The dumpsite attracted vagrants who made their homes near the site and salvage what they could sell from the rubbish.
Nadena Grotius from Riviera was especially upset since her husband Ferdi saw a tipper truck unloading rubbish in broad daylight about a week ago.
“It is so sad that people are dumping there again, because it looked really neat the last few months,” Grotius said.
Duncan Baker, Democratic Alliance ward councillor of the area, said he was aware of the problem and explained that illegal dumping had become a real headache in the city.
“This is not the only site where illegal dumping is a problem. The only way to stop this is to put up barriers and there is no budget for it. The other issue is that people dump faster than we can clean it up. I am not sure harsher fines would solve the problem.”
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