East illegal dumping site finally cleared
“The whole area was covered with litter everywhere and it would take months to be cleaned.”
Mamelodi east residents living next to an open veld have been warned to stop illegally dumping on the site.
The veld next to the Buffer Zone sports ground in ward 18 has been turned into a dump site.
Councillor Tovey Masemola said this after the veld was finally cleaned on Wednesday.
Masemola said he had received several complaints from the community about illegal dumping.
ALSO READ: Take photos of illegal dumpers, residents told
He blamed the current Tshwane administration.
“They are very slow on service delivery in the township but in the suburbs, they make it their first priority to clean illegal dumping fast.
“Now that the area is cleaned it is up to the community to keep it that way,” he said after he had contacted the relevant department for workers to clear up the area.
“The problem is every time they clean the place, people come and dump rubbish, especially at night,” said Masemola.
“We must protect our empty space and keep it clean at all times,” he said.
Masemola said the next step was to host cleaning awareness campaigns in his ward to guide residents on how to keep empty spaces clean and to keep them neat once they have been cleaned.
He said illegal dumping was a health hazard to nearby residents.
“We are calling on people who are interested to start using the area for gardening.”
ALSO READ: East community park turned into dumping site
Themba Ntaka, who lives near the Buffer Zone sports grounds, said the illegal dumping site had been there for many years
and the Tshwane metro “has never bothered to come and clean the area”.
“The stench of the illegal dumping site is putting our lives in danger, especially for residents who have houses near the site.
“We are unable to open windows to enjoy fresh air because of the flies and mosquitos. Our health is at risk because of the bad smell coming from the illegal dumping.”
Ntaka said residents were “trapped in their own houses”.
He said residents were happy that the illegal dumping site had finally been cleaned.
EFF ward councillor Grace Selaule of Mamelodi East said that another area being cleaned was near the stream.
She blamed the three-month backlog on the Tshwane metro.
“Many people who are dumping here are not from section 16, many come from far with vehicles to dump rubbish.”
She urged residents to have a “watchdog mentality” by reporting any car or person dumping on the site.
“They must take videos and car registration numbers so that they can report to the metro police so that offenders can be fined,” she said adding that the metro should also put up a no-dumping warning notice board.
Masemola advised residents to report any person dumping by dialling 012-358-9999.
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