Illegal dumping a burning issue

A series of fires is still affecting residents in The Reeds, as an illegal dumping site caught alight two weeks ago, with ongoing flare-ups affecting residents in the area.

The illegal dumpsite near Panorama Road in Centurion is located on two privately owned properties that are part of the old Brakfontein farm.

According to MMC of Corporate and Shared Services, Kingsley Wakelin, the illegal occupation and illegal dumping have been taking place for many years, especially since the Covid-19 period.

Wakelin told Rekord the rubbish piles are so high that the fire goes deep into the mound and smoulders.

“We are currently working to break down the mound of rubbish so that the fire department can put out the fire,” he said.

Wakelin said the metro’s current approach was to get the property owner to comply with legislation and take care of the property.

He said the metro and Gauteng have issued multiple compliance notices for environmental breaches.

“However we realise that this approach cannot continue and more decisive action is needed, as the owner does not want to take accountability as the rightful owner of the property.”

Rekord contacted the property owner, but had not received a comment at the time of publishing.

Wakelin, as well as representatives of various departments visited the site at the end of February.

“We have instructed the city manager and his office to devise and develop a legal strategy to force the owners to deal with the illegal occupiers and illegal dumping once and for all,” Wakelin said.

“We also requested additional immediate interventions from relevant departments to devise and implement an interdepartmental operation consisting out of TMPD, environmental management, SAPS, home affairs and other bylaw enforcement departments of the city.”

He said that the legal approaches would unfortunately take long at a high cost, and that the metro was also looking at new policies and by-laws that will empower it to take more decisive action against negligent property owners.

“Even while we were on site, two vehicles with building rubble and garden waste came to dump illegally, but all TMPD could do was turn them away, since you can only fine someone caught in the act of dumping illegally.

“This must change. We must be able to impound and even confiscate vehicles that are involved in or suspected of being involved in illegal dumping, as that will send a clear message.”

Environmental pollution, especially water pollution, is a major concern for some residents and one that the metro says it takes seriously.

The MMC said these were difficult issues to tackle as they needed to be tackled in terms of the law, and Gauteng and the metro were nearing the end of their abilities.

“This is why we need a new approach and as an immediate interim measure activate an interdepartmental operation through the city manager’s office.

“We also need a clear approach to reclaimers or recyclers which do provide a community service, but the pollution that comes with current practices is not sustainable and is frustrating to all residents,” said Wakelin.

He said the metro was developing a plan to drastically improve recycling and provide proper spaces for sorting, rather than in wetlands and parks.

Ward 64 councillor Alta de Kock said the illegal dumping on the site was an ongoing struggle.

“I saw the same truck three times today dumping garden refuse, which comes from a nearby area,” said De Kock.

She urged residents to make sure that the waste removal services they used were not dumping illegally.

WATCH: MMC Themba Fosi at Erasmia SAPS says that the metro has opened criminal cases against those involved in the land invasion near Erasmia.

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