City Parks responds to illegal dumping

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos (JPCZ) responded to the numerous complaints made by business owners about the illegal dumping along the river connecting Coleen Road and Liner Street.

The Laser Park Business Association (LBA) raised the issue with the Roodepoort Northsider on May 21 after noticing that a company in the same vicinity was illegally dumping their vape bottles into the river, causing significant ecological damage and contaminating clean water.

According to JPCZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley, the entity has not received any formal complaints or reports regarding river contamination or illegal dumping in Laser Park, and this is the first time the Integrated Catchment Management department is hearing about this matter.

Also read: Pollution crisis at Laser Park

“In general, when illegal dumping is reported, JCPZ works collaboratively with relevant municipal departments. The JMPD is responsible for enforcement and should be contacted to address and apprehend illegal dumpers. Additionally, JCPZ engages with Pikitup to assist with the clearing and removal of illegally dumped waste. JCPZ ensures regular maintenance of greenbelt areas by cutting grass, cleaning rivers where possible, and removing alien invasive plant species,” Moodley adds.

The Northsider has sent questions to JMPD for comment, but has received no response to the follow-up. Moodley further adds that JPCZ teams carry out routine maintenance, including grass cutting, reed management, invasive plant removal, and river cleaning. In certain cases, service providers are contracted to support these activities.

“To address illegal dumping over the long term, JCPZ has implemented many interventions, which include the installation of signage warning against illegal dumping and outlining prohibited activities. Enforcing regular maintenance by internal teams to discourage dumping in unmanaged areas and encouraging communities to report dumping incidents to JMPD for enforcement,” Moodley says.