Sandown residents demand action as illegal dumping and squatters threaten their neighbourhood

A resident of Sandown Ext 24, who asked not to be named, has voiced deep frustration over the growing number of informal recyclers illegally occupying a protected urban green belt bordering the Kramerville area.

Once a peaceful haven for wildlife and a drawcard for property buyers, the space is now marred by piles of rubble, smoke from burning waste, and rising health and safety concerns.

Read more: Illegal night-time dumping threatens Bryanston’s Braamfontein Spruit greenbelt

“There is illegal dumping that’s snowballing uncontrollably,” the resident said. “This green belt was meant to protect local vegetation and wildlife, not for human habitation. That’s why many of us bought properties here. Now, our neighbours have become illegal occupants.”

The resident moved into her home with her son earlier this year, believing she had found her forever home in a premium, convenient location. Instead, she says, she is living beside what she describes as an environmental and social crisis. “Fires at night, smoke at all hours, noise, glass breaking, it’s become unbearable. My son has allergies now and I wake up with chronic headaches. We can’t sit outside. I had to buy air cleaners for each room to manage the smoke. We can’t even hang the laundry.

“We’re paying full rates and living like this. Can the City of Johannesburg give us payment holidays until they clean up? Who is accountable for this?”
Despite daily reports to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), she says no action has been taken, and the calls are closed at the end of each day without follow-up. “We asked CAP Security to remove them, but they said it’s a by-law infringement, and only JMPD can move them. Daily calls with JMPD were not responded to, and meanwhile, the number of vagrants is growing, together with the littering, illegal dumping, noise pollution, and smoke.

“While I am empathetic to those who are homeless, the reality is that they’re occupying land illegally. They are polluting the green belt, and, with that, decaying our neighbourhood. We don’t feel safe because when they fight, often intoxicated, we hear them. They are free, and us? Rate payers, are uncomfortable and suffering.”

Also read: ‘No more dumping here’ – ward councillor issues stern warning

The resident added that the by-laws are being infringed and this doesn’t seem to concern anyone in the respective government structures, even though the regional office is around the corner.

She also highlighted the risk posed by a non-functional electric fence, which belongs to the City of Johannesburg, running along the boundary wall between homes and the green belt. “We are also worried about safety, as between us and the green belt is a boundary wall. There is an electrical fence that belongs to the city, but it is not working.
“I am pleading and kindly requesting that immediate action be taken to clean up the area and move these individuals to ensure the safety and well-being of the community, and the preservation of the green belt’s ecological balance.”

Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackleford acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing the issue as a city-wide crisis, which has worsened over the past six months. “The numbers have increased dramatically. People are being displaced from other parts of Athol and are now moving into the Sandspruit and green belt areas.”

Shackleford said the City of Johannesburg is aware of the issue and has identified the area as a high-risk zone, that is why she’s requested crime prevention efforts and clean-up operations. “I brought out the city to do an oversight, and when we were standing there, there was a gentleman who got completely naked and stood in the river in front of us. It was quite shocking for everyone to see, including all the people who work at Kramerville.

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Sandown Ext 24 residents are voicing deep frustration over the growing number of informal recyclers illegally occupying a protected urban green belt bordering the Kramerville area, calling on Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the City of Johannesburg to put an end to this illegal practice. Video Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Sandown ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“The other issue is that there was a flash flood in the area in 2022, and we had some deaths along this section of the river. It’s a massive worry for me, because if we have another major flood, a lot of these recyclers could be washed down, because they have built their structures quite close to the water line.”

Shackelford added that site inspections have been done with members of parliament, and local businesses are being approached to assist. “My biggest push is to protect these open spaces and make them safe for residents again, but we need more support, especially from the JMPD. It’s a by-law issue at its core. Unfortunately, many of the recyclers are not South African citizens. I’m not saying they’re illegal, but it does add another layer of complexity.”

Informal recyclers living in the area say they are not trying to cause harm, but are simply trying to survive. “We chose this area because it’s close to where we collect and sell our recycling materials, which is Sandton and Fourways,” one of the recyclers, who asked not to be named, explained. “We can’t afford to pay rent because it’s expensive. There are no jobs, and this is how we feed our families, back in Lesotho. We have the passports.

“People say we’re burning poisonous things, but that’s not true. Sometimes perfume bottles might burst, but we try to remove anything dangerous before starting a fire.”

Recyclers have called on the city not to destroy their belongings without warning, and are asking for relocation options that are still close to key working areas, like Sandton and Fourways. “If they move us, they must help us with a shelter close to where we can work. Otherwise, how will we survive?”

The Sandton Chronicle reached out to JMPD and the City of Johannesburg for a comment. Updates will be provided once they become available.

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