Vagrants behind rugby club in Silverton to face eviction
The community claimed illegal activities were allegedly taking place at the site such as illegal dumping.
Tshwane is currently seeking a court order to see through the eviction of the group of vagrants behind Silver Valke Rugby Club in Silverton.
This follows a recent clean-up by the Tshwane Environment and Agriculture Management Department.
The department carried out the initiative to clear the illegal dumping behind the rugby club.
The long overdue clearing behind the municipal property in Silverton comes after residents and organisations were at their wits’ end over the mess in the area.
Residents raised concerns about safety, security, sanitation and public health hazards at the site.
The community complained that illegal activities were taking place at the site, compounded by the vagrants’ presence, while waste sorting and illegal dumping were causing ecological damage and structures were being erected by the people who camped behind the popular clubhouse.
In October, the metro confirmed that inspectors had carried out an assessment and that a clean-up would follow.
Accompanied by the TMPD, they gave the vagrants verbal notice to vacate the premises.
Vagrants at the site were said to be causing illegal dumping due to the sorting of illegal waste and failure to properly dispose of useless material.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said waste was removed and the illegal dumping was cleared during the joint clean-up programme.
He said the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) would enforce by-law enforcement to deter further dumping at the site.
Mashigo said social workers attended to the case again.
“Following visiting the location again and upon assessment, the vagrants indicated that they are not willing to relocate voluntarily,” Mashigo said.
He said the social workers cannot force the people to relocate to shelters.
“As a result, enforcement needs to take place.”
Mashigo said the city is in the process of seeking a court order for an eviction.
He warned people to refrain from dumping illegally, as it has serious financial and health concerns.
Mashigo said the city is dealing with illegal dumping hotspots through the enforcement of the Waste Management By-Law and issuing of fines to transgressors.
“Any person found dumping waste illegally in an unauthorised area is liable to a fine of R5 000 as prescribed in the city’s by-law,” he warned.
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