Residents welcome turnaround at Rooihuiskraal garden refuse site

Residents living near the Rooihuiskraal Garden Refuse Site are relieved that the piles of garden waste that had accumulated at the site have finally been cleared.

They say the strong smell that was plaguing the area has faded, bringing a noticeable improvement to the neighbourhood.

Janet Viljoen, a resident of Aleppo Crescent, said the improvement in the air quality and overall cleanliness around the site has been remarkable.

“It really has made a difference in our lives. For the longest time, we could not enjoy being outside because of the awful stench coming from the garden refuse site. It would creep into our homes and cars, and it felt like there was no escape. But now, since they cleared the site, the smell is almost completely gone,” she said.

She added that since the waste was removed, she has also noticed fewer flies. “The clean-up was long overdue, and I hope that the city will now manage the site regularly, not only when things get out of hand,” said Viljoen.

Another resident, Andrew Rooi, expressed frustration about how long the problem had persisted before the city took action.

“I am glad the site is clean now. That part is a big relief. But honestly, it should not have taken this long. We have been reporting this issue for months.”

He said waste management is one of the basics that should be handled without delays.

“I have family members with asthma, and they were struggling every time the wind blew that smell our way,” he said.

Rooi added that the situation was not just uncomfortable but also unhealthy.

Residents’ comments follow confirmation by the metro that the Rooihuiskraal site is back to full operation after successfully clearing a backlog that had built up earlier this year.

Tshwane metro spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, told Rekord that the waste was cleared, and normal operations were resumed in May.

He confirmed that the city’s new waste removal contract was finalised and came into effect on May 1.

Bokaba added that garden waste removal services at transfer stations, including the Rooihuiskraal site, are now operating at full capacity and that waste is being managed according to the city’s permit.

He confirmed that heavy equipment is still being used at the facility, saying, “The city has not received any complaints about the site since the backlog was addressed.”

Bokaba explained that backlogs are usually caused by unforeseen disruptions, such as bad weather that delay waste removal.

“In such cases, the city puts measures in place, including rotating equipment between sites to support the most affected sites and alleviate congestion.”

He also said that in such cases, traffic would be directed to other refuse sites.
Ward 69 councillor, Cindy Billson, said the site has undergone significant improvement.

“The garden refuse site looks much better. It is the best I have seen in a while. The area was cleared, and it shows that a lot of work was done. It is clear a lot of effort has been put into it,” she said.

She added that residents have not raised any recent complaints about the site, which she sees as a sign that conditions have improved.

Earlier this year, the site faced major criticism from residents due to the rapid accumulation of garden waste following service disruptions.

In March, spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro was forced to extend its previous contract, after delays in appointing new contractors left the site without some equipment needed between March 1 and 3.

During that time, no waste was removed from the site, causing the situation to deteriorate further.

“To address the problem, the city granted an emergency extension of the expired contract from March 4 to April 30 while finalising the new one,” said Mashigo.

He said the extension was necessary to maintain service and make sure that waste facilities remained functional.

“The city reinstated the use of yellow plant equipment that was allocated under the 2020/2021 contract to continue with waste removal services.”

He confirmed that waste trucks resumed operations on March 4 and the backlog began to be cleared.

While the city worked to restore services, many residents expressed their frustration at the impact the overflowing waste had on their health and environment.

At the time, Judith Gomes, a resident of Wierda Glen Estate, said her family suffered due to the conditions.

“Rubbish started piling up everywhere, creating an unbearable smell that affected our health,” she said.

Gomes said her granddaughter, who has a chronic lung condition, became constantly ill due to the poor air quality.

“This is really unfair because we all pay rates and taxes, but have to deal with this situation.”

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