A Mamelodi man is still waiting for his initiation school to be cleaned after it was recently turned into a dumpsite.
Chief Mapale Phetla said he was angry that his initiation school had been turned into an illegal dumpsite.
“People must respect other people’s culture and traditions,” said Phetla of Phetla initiation school.
Phetla said he wanted the Tshwane metro to intervene and stop the illegal dumping on this “sacred” site in Section SnS, Mamelodi East.
Traditional circumcision and initiation into manhood rites are performed at the school in winter.
“This is supposed to be a sacred place where no one is supposed to go, but someone is dumping their trash here,” said Phetla.
He said people had respected the site for decades.
He blamed a traditional healer who had erected a shack next to the school site for the problem.
ALSO READ: Mamelodi woman’s battle to transform illegal dumpsite
Phetla said he took the healer to court three months ago.
“The Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court ordered her to vacate the area. However, she is refusing to move out.”
Phetla claimed the healer told people to dump at the site just “to get back at him”.
Tshwane metro health inspector Desmond Ramatsomo who investigated the complaint at the time, said the site needed to be cleaned as soon as possible.
He said he discovered medical waste among the trash at the site. “The place is unhygienic and could cause serious harm during the initiation period,” he said.
Ramatsomo also said the site, who was close to a primary school, ought to be cleaned immediately because it was infested by flies and mosquitoes.
Local councillor Rabasotho Masupha said the area was restricted and dumpers used an entrance next to the water reservoir on the mountain.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: East dumpsite a crime haven
The healer was among the informal settlement residents the Tshwane metro was relocating to Extension 5, next to Eerste Fabrieke station, he said.
“The healer refused to sign the relocation documents. She said it will damage her image and business as a traditional healer.”
The metro has resolved to close the entrance to the reservoir.
Mamelodi East CPF chairperson Eddie Mnguni said he would send volunteers to help clean up.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
