Sparrow Rainbow Village is once again provoking the ire of its neighbours, this time over rubbish overflowing from the property, where some residents have resorted to recycling to make ends meet.

The rubbish skip on the property has not been emptied for years. Refuse of every imaginable kind has been strewn around it and continues to pile up, with residents regularly adding to the growing heap by discarding non-recyclable waste.

According to Mandy Cattanach, the manager of the Roodepoort/Krugersdorp SPCA, the warmer weather has brought flies, a strong stench, and infestations of rats and mice.

• Also read: SPCA sounds alarm as dumping and crime increase near Sparrow Village

The dump is situated directly across the narrow street from the SPCA in Nadine Street.

“Every day the area looks worse, with rubbish piling up against the boundary fence. Much of it is spilling through into the street.

“We even see children playing there, sometimes picking through the rubbish. Who knows what they’re being exposed to?”

During the Roodepoort Record’s visit, Cattanach was confronted by residents, who said they had nowhere else to discard their rubbish.

They admitted they had been given refuse bags but had not attempted to clean up the site.

Shortly before the Record left, a few men began raking the rubbish together.

It later emerged that they had set the heap alight.

“This does absolutely nothing to alleviate the problem, as the heap then smoulders for days on end.

“It’s really embarrassing for us when people come to the SPCA,” adds Cattanach. “We try our best to keep our property clean and neat. We can’t be expected to clean up after them as well.”

Sparrow Village founder Reverend Dr Corine McClintock was removed by family from the village after reportedly being diagnosed with dementia.

Residents have since formed their own committee and are determined to turn the tide, but appear to be fighting an uphill battle.