WATCH: Local councillors join hands to clean up Dorondia Garden refuse site
Ten pick-up trucks were called in to collect the piles of waste and were accompanied by metro police for added protection.
Hard work and the persistent efforts of local councillors and Tshwane environmental affairs teams have led to the slow restoration of the Dorandia Garden Refuse site.
This site previously had become a source of disorder and frustration for the local community, as illegal dumping has been the order of the day.
The site had been overrun by rodents, infested with waste, and a lack of proper waste disposal.
The municipal service delivery backlogs contributed to the situation, but the determination of the teams has resulted in significant progress.
The site has attracted significant attention in recent weeks due to the frequency of fire incidents caused by improper disposal of materials.
These incidents were the result of the site being used to dump waste other than garden refuse, such as flammable materials and general waste.
The fires not only endangered the surrounding area, but also caused significant environmental damage and air pollution.
Daan de Wet Nel Drive was closed from the entrance of Gerrit Maritz Road to the traffic lights at Madeliefie Centre to limit traffic and motorists’ movements.
MMC for health Rina Marx was on the ground from 07:30 on Tuesday to coordinate the clean-up effort and was joined by other local councillors.
Ten trucks were made available to assist with waste removal.
In light of recent incidents of waste collection trucks being torched, Marx also arranged for TMPD officials to accompany the trucks for added protection.
Marx said she asked the local CPF, Maksimum Security and Cobra Ops to assist as well to ensure the workers’ safety at the site.
“The situation at the site was hazardous to the health of nearby residents, who were forced to live with foul smells and overflowing waste in the streets.”
Marx added that the teams working to restore the site were committed to preventing future incidents by promoting proper waste disposal practices.
She warned people to refrain from dumping illegally and said the metro planned to clamp down on this issue.
“Through the collaborative efforts, the community will now breathe fresh air.”
Councillor Dana Wannenburg acknowledged the challenges of service delivery backlogs, but emphasised that illegal dumping is still a serious offence.
He also noted that private contractors who charged residents R50 to collect waste have been contributing to the problem by illegally disposing of waste at the site.
Wannenburg encouraged residents to request waste disposal permits from these contractors, and to report any instances of illegal dumping to the authorities.
The metro said it is aware of the situation that has emanated from the unprotected and illegal strike.
“There is a plan in place, however, the implementation is constantly disrupted by the unprotected strike, coupled with elements of criminality which include the burning of the sites, threats, as well as intimidation of contractors and workers,” said metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
He said this constant destruction impacted negatively on general operations and maintenance of the sites, hence their current state.
Mashigo said the city has nine garden refuse sites and two transfer stations.
“The city acknowledges that the facilities are not sufficient, and is working on identifying additional sites for development in areas where there are no such facilities.”
He said the development of sites will, however, depend on budget availability.
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