Secunda Rubbish Dump re-opens

SECUNDA – Govan Mbeki Municipality re-opened the Secunda Rubbish Dump last week after Mr Tim Denny from the DA organised an emergency meeting between the municipality and other stakeholders regarding the rubbish dump.

Workers from OTB Construction, the municipality and Sasol cleaned the main road outside Secunda near the rubbish dump after people was forced to dump their rubbish there as the rubbish dump was inaccessible in December.

The owner of the road leading to the rubbish dump, Mr Andre du Preez, has been battling with the municipality for eight years to maintain the rubbish dump.

The road has been opened on conditions that include that the municipality maintains the rubbish dump, control the scavengers and security control at the rubbish dump.

The head of marketing and communications for the Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Henry Masango, said last year while the Secunda Rubbish Dump was closed, people should use the Kinross Rubbish Dump, but many residents think this rubbish dump is not safe.

A man was attacked at this rubbish dump on 8 January.

“I went there to dump rubbish at around 10.30am and saw six men there and still said to another resident he better go because I saw those men were going to attack him.

“I had six workers with me, so I thought I was safe.

“However they attacked me and my workers and threatened my workers.

“They stole my watch and R2 000 and escaped in a white Nissan bakkie when a municipal truck arrived.”

This man is nearly 70 years old and said he is not going to Kinross Rubbish Dump again unarmed.

Mr Masango said: “The dumping site has been rehabilitated last week and is operational.

“Several meetings were held to unlock this impasse to no avail.

“However, further engagements are continuing and the public will be informed once a breakthrough has been reached.”