Plan to turn east crime hub into entertainment haven

Landfills are known for giving environmentalists headaches but a growing new problem is now safe harbour for criminals.

And Garstkloof landfill, east of Pretoria, is proving to be at the forefront of this social problem.

The supposed crime nest, positioned just behind a filling station and adjacent to the “ghost mall” on R50 Delmas Road has become a plague for ratepayers.

Garstkloof was decommissioned in 2013, and in 2017 heaps of compost started smoldering, emitting a plume of smoke that blanketed the neighbouring suburbs.

This forced Tshwane to set up a mobile clinic at the Erasmuskloof fire station to assist the affected.

Since then the site has allegedly been a nest for those terrorising the suburbs close by with no clear direction on how this problem will be solved.

Tshwane said the site is in the final stages of decommissioning thereafter, a plan for the site’s end-use will be hatched with no set date announced. It was however expected the land would be used for a recreational development such as a golf course, nature park and walking or biking trails for public use.

Ward 47 councillor Daryl Johnston told Rekord that a public participation meeting had come up with one acceptable suggestion.

“The community yielded for the development of recreation.”

Johnston dispelled suggestions that the site would serve as a composting­ and recycling plant.

“Certainly not a composting or recycling plant. There is municipal property further down Delmas Road that would be better suited for composting/recycling than the Garstkloof site.”

Gwen Theron, of Leap enviro – landscape architects and environmental planners – who completed an impact study on the site for Tshwane told Rekord that though the study was done, Tshwane had yet to give authorisation because further work still needed to be done.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said: “Matters relating to crime in the area are a competency of the SAPS.”

He however added that the end-use plan would quell the crime there permanently.

“The approved end-use plan will be implemented which will be a permanent solution to the problem.”

Mashigo said operations at Garstkloof landfill stopped in December 2013 when the site reached its maximum carry capacity and had no more space to accept waste.

“The city is still awaiting the finalisation of the closure application process.”

He said Tshwane was aware of the destitute people residing on the land, though he could not be exact regarding the number of years they had illegally occupied the site.

“The landfill permit does not allow people to reside inside the facility.

“The matter is receiving attention through the land invasion committee. Eviction operations are taking place and are spearheaded by the law-enforcement.”

Mashigo was also yet to confirm approved use for the land at the time of publishing.

According to a resident, the landfill has been a den for criminals for six years and is also home to informal recyclers.

As individuals enter the roadway to the landfill, there is a locked gate and a small double-storey building housing unarmed security guards. However, even with the presence of security, the landfill has allegedly been a haven for criminals since 2018.

Opportunistic criminals have bypassed the security measures at the entrance to gain entry to the landfill and then roam the vast area of land freely.

The local CPF narrated to Rekord how moveable assets such as a flat-screen TV, wire fencing, construction tools, motorbikes and other household appliances have been recovered at the site during anti-crime operations with the police.

A security guard who wanted to remain anonymous said among the 30 innocent waste-pickers, some opportunistic individuals robbed households and then used the landfill for safe harbour.

“We know these individuals that are involved in thefts, however, we are unable to chase them into the landfill because of limited resources and powers.”

He said anti-crime operations cannot put an end to crime in the area.

The guard further said noisy sirens and bright lights during operations only forewarned the criminals of the presence of the police.

“The challenge is that often when we call for assistance from police, as we witness odd behaviour and items in the landfill, there is never an immediate response.”

He said they could not apprehend the perpetrators because they feared for their safety.

“The perpetrators usually arrive around 03:00, from Thursday leading into the weekend.”

He said there were two shacks on the site, where stolen items were oftentimes kept.

Waste-picker, Lindo Mabuya, who resides at the landfill, said there were people there from Mamelodi and Tembisa who committed the crimes.

“They are here and barge into the landfill in the early morning as we are asleep. We will see TVs, bicycles and they are often collected by a white bakkie.”

Mabuya said the criminals did not stay on the site for long and avoided interaction with waste-pickers.

Burglary victim Helena Alexander told Rekord that earlier in the year, her stolen items had been recovered at the landfill.

According to Alexander, the perpetrators entered her home in the early hours of the morning and helped themselves to items such as her handbag and personal laptop.

“We are fortunate that we have security services and this played a huge role in ensuring no more items were taken.

“The landfill is a major concern.

“We were notified by security and other residents that this was a common practice in the area.”

Police spokesperson Dave Miller told Rekord that for several years his officers and their Tshwane metro counterparts as well as the security guards at the site had raided the landfill multiple times.

He said police had also arrested some perpetrators, illegal immigrants and chased away some vagrants from the landfill however days later they returned.

“The area is large and has poor borders, which gives easy access to criminals who bolt away from crime scenes in the direction of the landfill.”

Tshwane metro police warn motorists of possible traffic congestion

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