Dumpers and vandals plague north

Public infrastructure vandalism and illegal dumpsites cropping up in Pretoria North have residents fuming.

At the weekend, Amandasig ward councillor Isak Pietersen reported to a community WhatsApp group that 22 streetlights in Longmore and Railway Streets had been vandalised.

Pietersen said Tshwane metro teams swiftly responded to repair the damages.

“Thanks to the quick response from the electricity department, the streetlights were fixed.”

A community watch group has urged residents, who might have witnessed the vandalism of the streetlights, to report to their local CPFs.

Last week, residents also took to social media to complain about several illegal dumping sites that were an eyesore to the community.

A Wolmer resident said dumping at a public park in Jopie Fourie Street was particularly bad and complained about the “terrible” stench at the site.

In Akasia, residents said illegal dumping, particularly garden waste, is often seen in Berg Avenue.

Despite Tshwane metro’s efforts to remove waste from reported sites, more rubbish piles were heaping up in residential areas.

Environment and agriculture management MMC Dana Wannenburg previously told Rekord that it was property owners’ responsibility to safely discard garden refuse at any of Tshwane’s nine garden waste transfer stations.

“Garden waste or refuse constitutes a significant proportion of the total waste stream received at municipal general landfill sites,” he said.

“The correct disposal of garden waste includes recycling the waste, turning the waste into compost, and disposing of it at our garden waste transfer stations.”

The nine garden waste transfer stations are:

– Dorandia at Daan de Wet Nel Drive, Pretoria North

– Magalieskruin at Koorsboom Road, Sinoville

– Menlopark at 26th Avenue, Menlopark

– Mountain View at Japie Peens Street, Mountain View

– Philip Nel Park at Sytze Wierda Avenue, Philip Nel Park

– Waltloo at Alwyn Road, Waltloo

– Eersterust at St Joseph Avenue, Eersterust

– Kruger Avenue at Kruger Avenue, Centurion

– Rooihuiskraal at M37, Rooihuiskraal, Centurion

The Sinoville Firefighters Association (SBBV) said that by safely disposing garden refuse at sites maintained by the authorities would also prevent fires.

The Association had imposed a fire ban in its area for the duration of winter, and burning of refuse without assistance of the proper authorities, was strictly prohibited.

The SBBV said a permit would have to be obtained from the metro, for the burning of waste to be allowed.

Applications for permits could be made with the SBBV by visiting their website at www.sbbv.co.za

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