The smouldering toxic compost might be an issue of the past, but security and management continue to be constant problems at the Panorama Compost Site.
The lack of proper security and management at the temporarily closed plant has seen it being stripped bare by criminals plying their trade in scrap metal sales.
On Friday, 20 November, Stella Wilson, the Pikitup regional manager, convened a multi-disciplinary meeting comprising relevant stakeholders, including the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), and unimpressed councillors, David Brand and Amelia Bester.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss possible mitigating factors pertaining to the site going forward; however the absence of some stakeholders somehow deadlocked this important meeting.
Brand, the Ward 126 councillor vented out his frustration about the poor management of the site.
“I’ve written to both Pikitup and the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services (EIS), Councillor Mpho Moerane, bearing a list of requests revolving around the security and management of the site, and the people living on the site illegally.
“I’ve been waiting for a month after I was told my requests would be considered and be integrated into their plan involving the whole site. But we got to the meeting and there was no plan,” he criticised.
“At this stage, people are accessing the site and destroying it. They are taking every piece and we stand helpless – what sort of planning is this?” Brand asked.
He further asked whether the MMC is aware of these problems.
He was also baffled as to what sort of answers he should give the residents when the existing plan only consists of keeping it closed until the major plan is finalised.
He added that it is imperative for Pikitup to make a plan now and listen to residents.
Brand also expressed his disappointment in the stakeholders that weren’t present, including the Department of Home Affairs, which is needed to deal with the illegal immigrants on the site.
“We got to have all stakeholders at the next meeting, including Home Affairs, which is the most disappointing office to deal with.
“I’ve personally been to their offices where you cannot find people, get your calls returned or email responses because their email box is full,” he further criticised.
The date of the next meeting has not been communicated.
