WATCH: Illegal dumping near N4, east wetland grows concern
When Rekord visited the area, water was gushing over to the roadway from a burst pipe nearby, while heaps of waste created a barrier on the pavement.
Tshwane says it is aware of reoccurring illegal dumping on Stanza Bopape Street leading into Cussonia Avenue.
The area has been riddled with building rubble and household waste which led to councillors and residents petitioning the metro last year to erect barriers along the road.
They wanted bollards or trenching on the roadside to stop the massive dumping along the N4 route, between the University of Pretoria’s engineering department and the Colbyn wetland.
When Rekord visited the area, water had been gushing over to the roadway due to a leak from a nearby pipe, while heaps of waste created a barrier along the roadway.
WATCH:
The illegal dumping stretches to the botanical gardens.
According to Ward 46 councillor Pieter van Heerden, concerns over dumping were communicated to him as it was detrimental to the environment.
He said for some time the area was riddled with building rubble and at times, general waste.
“It is unhygienic, disturbs the ecology, looks bad, and has a negative impact on the environment.
The lack of monitoring and law enforcement is a concern.”
He said however there had been talks with the University of Pretoria and Sanral to clean up the area.
“When it is cleaned, the area will be secured to prevent further dumping.”
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro was aware of the issue and from time to time removed the illegally dumped waste.
Mashigo said Tshwane had not discussed the problem with the University of Pretoria but had considered this to try to find a long-term solution.
Rekord believes a parcel of the land on which the dumping occurs belonged to the institution.
Mashigo said Tshwane sought to implement several interventions to address illegal dumping in the area.
He said the plans would be spread city-wide, especially in the public open spaces.
The plans included the following:
– Re Kaofela campaign which means “we are together” as a collective to keep our environment clean. The campaign seeks to ensure that residents take responsibility for the eradication of illegal dumping and use approved receptacles to dispose of their waste.
– Adopt-A-Spot, which encourages communities to adopt open spaces currently used for illegal dumping and develop them into parks and streetscapes as part of the metro’s urban-greening strategy.
– Ramping up by-law enforcement to ensure that all residents obey the laws of the city.
Mashigo said the metro was concerned over the unending dumping in the area.
According to Mashigo, the metro police were responsible for the enforcement of all by-laws including waste management by-laws.
He urged residents to contact the metro police when they witness illegal dumping in the area.
The University of Pretoria had yet to comment at the time of going to print.
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