The condition of a dirty canal in Pretoria West has worsened, locals said.
The Zeiler Street canal has, in the past, been the source of illegal dumping.
“It is getting worse each day,” crime activist, Eric Cordier said.
He said criminals have now even started to steal the steel railings that border the canal.
“We do not know what to do anymore,” he said.
Another business owner of the area, Shawn Vermeulen from DJ Pawn brokers, said the situation was “getting out of hand”.
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“The illegal dumpers just dump and dump until the canal is full, then they set it alight. They are now dumping on both sides of the road,” he said.
He said the situation was especially bad at the bottom of the road.
Vermeulen said that the illegal dumping have become an eyesore for him and his clients.
His store is across the street from the canal.
Cordier told Rekord that the illegal dumping posed health threats to residents and schoolchildren.
“My main concern is for the learners of Hoërskool Pretoria West. They have to pass in front of the canal and a lot of things can happen. They could get sick because of the bad smell from the canal or they could get robbed by the nyaope addicts roaming around,” he said.
“It is time we take back our neighbourhood. Action needs to be taken against these people who dump their rubbish in front of our yards. There are rats in the canal.”
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Cordier also expressed his concern over the health issues due to the illegal dumping.
“The canal flows directly into the Apies River. From the river, the water flows into the Bon Accord dam. The water of the Bon Accord dam becomes our drink water,” he said.
Cordier also mentioned that a big part of the Zeiler canal has already been closed up.
“There was talk a while back of the whole canal being closed, but I do not know when that will happen.”
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He and urged residents to be responsible and stop dumping illegally.
“We need to be proud of the area that 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 did not comment at the time of going to press.
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