Residents in Pretoria West say they are fed up with a field in the area used by illegal dumpers and squatters.
“We cannot take it anymore,” said local resident Yolanda Lötter of Schutte Street.
“Residents in the street fear for their safety.”
Daily, motorists and residents are confronted with piles of garbage next to the road in Schutte Street.
“When we first moved here, more than 10 years ago, our children could freely walk around and they could even play at the stream around the corner,” she said.
Lötter was referring to the stream in Vom Hagen Street, now infamous as a haven for prostitutes.
“When the wind blows, all the garbage blows into our yards and sometimes we find used condoms between the litter.”
ALSO READ: Two women attacked in overgrown Danville field
“There was also a woman a while back who ‘flashed’ motorists driving past, but I chased her away.”
Another resident, Silvia Silva said she also feared for her safety.
“The streetlights have been out for months now,” she said.
“When it is dark we cannot see a thing and if the dogs start barking, I get afraid because I do not know what is out there.”
She said they have reported the problem to the Tshwane metro, but to no avail.
“We cannot go on like this – we have become prisoners in our own home,” Lötter said.
She said since vagrants have moved in across the road, someone has tried to steal her electric gate.
“We desperately need help,” she said.
Lötter also said that it was not only illegal dumping and vagrants that bothered them.
ALSO READ: Vacant west field a ‘danger’ to residents
“Our property value is dropping and one of our neighbours is struggling to sell his home,” she said.
“How long until something is done to help us?”
Local crime activist Eric Cordier said the illegal dumping and vagrants in Schutte Street were a huge problem.
“I do not understand why people continue to dump garbage there illegally,” he said.
“Everyone always complains that our city is dirty, but then go on like this.”
Cordier said illegal dumping was so bad that motorists could not properly drive in the road.
He also said vagrants and criminals used the bushes next to the railway to hide.
ALSO READ: Long grass overwhelms Danville
Cordier this week urged residents to be responsible.
“We need to be proud of the area we live in,” he said.
“Responsibility starts with yourself and there are many legal dumping sites in Pretoria where garbage can be thrown away at.”
The Tshwane metro could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
WATCH:
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
