Mass clean-up in the north

A mass clean-up operation in Sinoville and Montana started before dawn on Wednesday morning.

The local CPF, police, Tshwane waste management and community leaders jumped in to tackle sites on open fields, parks and stands close to residential areas that had become a nest for vagrants, illegal dumping and drug trafficking.

“This is the continuation of a clean-up that started a few weeks ago,” said Sinoville ward councillor Lenise Breytenbach.

“Months of preparation and planning has gone into this clean-up and we can only thank all the role players involved in making this project such a big success.”

Breytenbach and councillors Hannes Coetzee and Arnold van Niekerk were tasked to point out “problem areas” in their communities wereUPDATE: Olievenhoutbosch cleanup planned for Friday, Saturday reports of loitering and other crimes were prevalent.

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CPF sector 1 chairperson Magriet van der Merwe said in a previous meeting before the clean-up, that there was a tendency for crime to increase in areas where illegal squatters moved in.

“Unkempt, open stands and properties are often used by criminals as a hideaway. We receive more complaints of crimes in areas closest to these stands that are not properly fenced off.”

Mirca, Borage and Majoram Streets were tackled in the previous clean-up, and two more major “problem area” sites on Wednesday.

Police and CPF sector 2 members started early in Jeugd Street before setting off to clean vacant grounds behind a popular shopping centre in Sefako Makgatho (Zambezi) Drive.

“Here we found many used syringes and other evidence of drug use,” said Breytenbach, who joined in on the early morning clean-up.

“I have to commend our Sinoville police officers, as well as CPF sector 2 chairman Brent Lawrence and his team, for their co-operation and dedication to serving their community through this project.”

Around 07:00, several waste management vehicles, escorted by police, made their way back to Jeugd Street to where a large open stand and illegal dumping site was cleared.

The new owner of the property, Ettienne van der Westhuizen had then arranged to put up fencing, baring loiterers and squatters from the grounds next to private residences.

“We can only keep our communities safe and clean if our residents work together,” said Breytenbach.

“We thank Ettienne, Ludwig Roses and other property owners who had committed themselves to help in this project by properly fencing off open stands to stop illegal dumping and criminal activities.”

Breytenbach called on all property owners to ensure their stands were kept neat and fenced off.

“Only when we work together can we have a cleaner, safer community.”

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