Local councillors roll up their sleeves to clear illegal dumping

Straight off the back of the festive season, local councillors are back on the ground this week, cleaning the illegal dumping which has accumulated during the holidays in Mamelodi.

The clean-up initiative was led by several local councillors, with the aim of transforming illegal dumping sites into a clean and safe place.

The campaign started at the Eerste Fabrieke train station in Ward 28, where an illegal dumping site was cleared on Tuesday.

Tshwane municipal workers gave a helping hand.

Ward 28 councillor Joyce Seelane said the clean-up was not a once-off campaign.

“We are cleaning all identified illegal dumping sites in Mamelodi.”

The illegal dumping site next to Eerste Fabrieke train station is one of the most notorious illegal dumping sites which train commuters have to walk past.

She said the foul smell from the illegal dumping site was unbearable and a health hazard to people passing by.

“We are appealing to the community to help in identifying all illegal dumping sites in Mamelodi.”

She expressed satisfaction that all Mamelodi ward councillors joined hands in the clean-up campaign and said it will spread out to other wards.

She advised residents to work with them in keeping Mamelodi clean and that they should stop dumping dirt anywhere, because they are the ones who will be subjected to health hazards.

A hefty fine of R3 000 will be issued to those found illegally dumping on open spaces as opposed to the previous R300.

She said this increase is meant to serve as a deterrent to those who dump rubbish at illegal dumping sites.

Illegal dumping creates unnecessary expenses for the municipality because the funds that are used to clear illegal dumping sites should actually be used to fix things like stormwater drainage and also assist in other service delivery matters.

“Those caught engaged in illegal dumping will be forced to reveal their home addresses and the fine for their crime will be added to their municipal accounts,” said Seelane.

The ward councillors plan on working together with the community of Mamelodi to create a lasting impact, and keep their community clean and a better place for all.

The clean-up campaign is also aimed at educating residents about illegal dumping and how it affects their health and environment.

“We are asking residents to patiently wait for waste removal trucks to come and collect their dirt on designated days because illegal dumping sites make their residential area look ugly,” she added.

She advised those who have cut off their trees not to dump those cut branches at the dumping site, but to dig up holes in their yards and bury the branches therein because the said tree branches will produce compost for them in the long run.

She concluded that those who host parties, must ask for plastic bags from their ward councillors in which to discard all the unwanted leftovers or ask the municipality to bring a truck which will remove all the rubbish.

Also read: Same issues continue in Mamelodi

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