Block R residents embark on a cleaning campaign
"There is a school and a pre-school near the illegal dump site and we were worried about their health."
Soshanguve Block R residents cleaned up an illegal dumping site in their area themselves last week Friday after they unsuccessfully asked the Tshwane metro to do so.
A community leader in the area Teboho Mlambo said they were worried about the health hazard caused by the illegal dumping site to children who are studying near it.
“There is a school and a pre-school nearby and we were worried about their health. The place is smelling and there is sewage that is running through the site.
“We have reported this several times to the municipality, but they have done nothing.”
Mlambo said the metro used to provide them with black bags to put their rubbish in, but they stopped doing so “a while ago”.
“Those plastic bags were very convenient because the residents would put their rubbish in the bags and the metro would pick them up every Friday. Since they stopped, there has been an increase in illegal dumping.
READ MORE: Volunteers clean up Voortrekker monument
“We are just worried that despite our efforts to clean up, people will continue to dump rubbish at that spot because they do have another alternative.”
Mlambo urged community members to love themselves and their environment.
“It is a norm where ever you stay should be clean. We need to keep ourselves and the community clean because if we do not do that, we are going to get sick considering that we are living in the times of Covid-19.”
Mlambo said starting next week, they will embark on a cleaning campaign around the areas of Block KK, Block R and Block S.
“We will be cleaning illegal dumping sites in those areas. We will be tackling every illegal dumping site that we will find in those areas.
“I cannot say how many illegal dumping sites there are, but we will clean everything we find because every day there are new illegal dumping sites being created.”
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro was keen to join hands with communities that are eager to clean up the city.
“It goes without saying that these residents need to be commended as out of their own volition they have embarked on cleaning their surroundings,” Mashigo said.
“As part of the Tswelopele clean-up campaign, the metro will join hands with such groups or residents to promote environmental care. In addition, we will support these groups with plastic refuse bags.
“We are concerned that there’s an illegal dumping site near the school in the area – this endangers the health of the pupils. A truck will be dispatched to clear the dumping site,” he concluded.
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: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
