More than 3 000 residents in the east of Pretoria have signed a petition demanding urgent intervention at the long decommissioned Garstkloof landfill site, which has, according to residents, become a ‘criminal den’.

The residents have cited escalating crime, illegal squatting, and environmental hazards as the main drivers behind the petition, which are affecting the surrounding communities.

The disused landfill, along with the adjoining Garstkloof Nature Reserve and land earmarked for future school development, has become a haven for criminal activity, land invasions, and environmental neglect, residents say.

Through the petition, driven by members of the Lyttelton Sector 4 CPF, residents are calling on the metro to secure and rehabilitate the decommissioned landfill and adjoining municipal land, including Erf 595, formerly used as school grounds.

The landfill, located behind a filling station along the R50 Delmas Road and adjacent to the so-called ‘ghost mall’, was decommissioned in 2013 after reaching capacity.

However, residents say it has since deteriorated into a hotspot for illegal recyclers, land invasions and opportunistic criminals.

While the metro announced plans in 2022 to transform the site into a secure, entertainment-focused development, little progress has been made.

Despite the presence of a locked gate and a small double-storey building housing unarmed security guards, criminals are believed to have gained access to the site with ease.

According to spokesperson for LS4 CPF Shawn Fouché, residents of Elarduspark, Wingate Park, Moreleta Park and surrounding areas have endured years of neglect at the site.

“I have witnessed the continuous rise in crime and pollution originating from the neglected Garstkloof landfill site and the adjoining Erf 595,” she said.

“Illegal squatting and the lack of proper management have turned what was once a promising area into a serious health and safety risk.”

Fouché said the metro’s complacency has perpetuated profound challenges.

“Illegal squatting on city-owned land has led to increased criminal activities and unchecked waste dumping, severely affecting our quality of life. Families in our community face health risks due to pollution, as hazardous waste contaminates our environment, making everyday life intolerable for many of us.”

She said ratepayers deserve better.

“We demand urgent action from the City of Tshwane. This includes the immediate implementation of fencing and security measures around the Garstkloof landfill site and [the] adjoining Erf 595 open area to deter illegal activities.”

She added that, moreover, there should be a strategic plan to rehabilitate and possibly repurpose this area, turning it into a community asset that benefits all residents.

“Studies have shown that proper waste management and site rehabilitation can drastically reduce environmental hazards and crime rates in communities.

“By transforming the Garstkloof landfill sites into a managed green space for much-needed recreational areas, we have the opportunity to not only safeguard our environment but also enhance community well-being, thus fostering a safer neighbourhood for our children and future generations.”

Petitioners are calling for immediate fencing and enhanced security around the landfill and adjacent open land to prevent further illegal occupation, waste dumping and criminal activity.

They also want the metro to implement a clear rehabilitation plan, potentially transforming the site into a managed green space or recreational facility that would benefit the broader community.

The residents said they submitted the petition to the metro on November 26, 2025, but no feedback has been received.

Residents have also raised serious concerns regarding the erection of informal structures on the closed municipal landfill site in the area, warning of significant health, environmental and safety risks.

Concerned resident Wihan Oosthuizen said old landfill sites pose considerable dangers even after closure.

“Decomposing waste continues to produce hazardous landfill gases such as methane, which is highly flammable and can accumulate beneath structures, creating a serious explosion and fire risk.”

In addition, toxic leachate from buried waste can contaminate soil and groundwater, exposing residents, particularly children, to harmful substances.

Oosthuizen said the ground on former landfill sites is often unstable due to ongoing decomposition and subsidence, making it structurally unsafe for habitation.

“There is also an increased presence of vermin, pests and disease vectors commonly associated with landfill environments.”

Oosthuizen said allowing people to settle on such land places already vulnerable individuals in even greater danger.

“This is not safe ground to live on. The risks are real, from gas build-up to contaminated soil. We are worried that people are being exposed to serious health hazards without fully understanding the consequences,” Oosthuizen said.

He added that, beyond the environmental dangers, the rapid establishment of informal dwellings under these conditions may contribute to broader safety concerns for surrounding neighbourhoods.

“We cannot ignore the potential fire risk or the long-term health impact, especially on children. The city needs to step in urgently before a tragedy happens,” he said.

Residents have requested that the metro urgently investigate the matter, conduct a public health and safety assessment, and take appropriate action to prevent habitation on land that is unsuitable and potentially dangerous for residential use.

“The safety, dignity and well-being of all community members must remain a priority,” Oosthuizen said.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the city has invited interested, qualified and financially capable stakeholders to submit expressions of interest to partner with the city in the redevelopment and repurposing of selected closed landfill sites, including Garstkloof, Kwaggasrand, Themba, and Onderstepoort.

The submission deadline for proposals is March 31.

Mashigo said the metro has no record of the referenced petition having been formally submitted through its official channels.

He added that the redevelopment and rehabilitation process envisaged through the expression-of-interest initiative is intended to address illegal occupation, dumping, criminal activity, and site degradation, including measures such as fencing, rehabilitation and controlled future use of the site.

“Timelines for fencing, rehabilitation or redevelopment will be guided by the outcome of the current expression-of-interest process.”

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