Scavengers scare people
Owners of local businesses have problems with scavengers at Secudna Rubbish Dump.
SECUNDA – The biggest problem at Secunda Rubbish Dump is still the many scavengers living and trading there illegally.
Many residents have apparently been attacked by scavengers in the past and some now refuse to go to this rubbish dump.
“I am going to dump my rubbish next to the road, because it is just too dangerous to go to the dump,” said a resident.
“Are the police going to wait until someone gets murdered before they do something about this?”
The owner of the road leading to the rubbish dump, Mr Andre du Preez, has been trying to negotiate with the Govan Mbeki Municipality for years to get not only the scavengers removed, but also other problems at the rubbish dump fixed.
The municipality has tried to fix, among others, the roads over the years, but the scavengers still remain the biggest concern to residents.
The owner of a recycling company near the rubbish dump, Mr Chris Bezuidenhout, offered to organise and manage the scavengers, but he said does not get much support from the municipality or the police.
“I tried to manage the scavengers, but it is difficult if the police do not want to help,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.
“Over weekends, when the scavengers drink alcohol and become drunk, they get very aggressive.
“We call the police to come out, but they never show up.
“It is illegal to trade at the rubbish dump without a license and I have seen people come from Johannesburg and other places to trade at the Secunda rubbish dump.”
He offered to issue all the scavengers with cards to manage and control them and issued more than 100 cards.
People believe more than 100 scavengers are living at the rubbish dump illegally.
According to Messrs Du Preez and Bezuidenhout they have had numerous meetings with the municipality who said they will do something about the scavengers, but nothing has been done.
According to Mr Tim Denny, councillor, who was also present at meetings between them owners and the municipality, the municipality has come to the table, but the biggest problem is still the scavengers.
The head of Marketing and Communications of the municipalty, Mr Henry Masango, said: “Outstanding issues such as the control of scavengers are not a quick solution.
“The municipality is working on an action plan for the permanent removal of all the people from the site, which will be implemented once all legal aspects are in place.
“The plan is approved and finalised.”
In answer to the article “Council fails to keep agreement” about the state of the rubbish dump published in the Ridge Times of 7 March, Mr Masango said: “The complainant must be reasonable.
“The municipality has met almost all its commitments, which included the repair of internal roads, the cleaning of all the waste along the access roads, the erection of a new fence along the access road, and more.
“The machinery on site broke down last week and during this period, people dumped their rubbish along the internal road of the rubbish dump and not along the main access road leading to the rubbish dump.
“All the businesses, including the farmer’s entrances were free of rubbish.”
The Ridge Times will publish the response from Secunda Police Station in next week’s edition.
