Pavements turned into dump site and health hazard
A dump site created by residents on the main road is now a health hazard.
Winterveldt residents have blamed the stench and threatening health risks of garbage on the main road on a councillor. Residents say the councillor suggested they throw their trash on the pavements of the main road.
Residents said the refuse collection company had also told them it would be easier to collect garbage from the main road pavements. Apparently the garbage vehicle was too big for the narrow streets inside the township.
“The councillor told us to either throw our garbage on the main road for easy collection or we can have the garbage rot in our own yards,” said resident Fihliwe Zwane.
But Lenda Kwenda, who is the councilor for the area said: “We tell residents every day they should use the dustbins provided by the metro, instead they dump it everywhere.
“We do have a truck that takes out the trash every week but they continue to dump their trash everywhere while we teach them about maintaining their surroundings. The Vat Alles teams do collect the trash and they clean the area,” Kwenda said.
“The garbage piling up on the main road does not look good because in a way it reflects on us in a bad way. But unfortunately we have no alternative,” Zwane said.
Ellen Sizani, another resident, said they had raised their concerns with the councilor, who she blames for poor leadership for all the problems in the community.
Sizani said the metro was not doing its job at all. “We had been to our local offices some time ago but nothing has been done to improve the situation.”
Mofenye Hamilton, who has been suffering from TB and lives two houses away said his condition has worsened from the dump site’s smell. “I have no other option but to use the outside toilet and by going outside I inhale the dirty air.”
Hamilton said although he took his medication he was still getting worse.
Residents said they had asked the councillor to find a better way getting rid of the garbage but she had not responded to their requests.
“People do not have rubbish bins. This is the reason they dump their garbage on the pavements,” said Amos Mahlangu, a community leader.
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