Illegal dumping continues to threaten Braamfontein Spruit greenbelt
Bryanston residents warned that illegal dumping along Braamfontein Spruit has worsened, with trucks now offloading rubble in broad daylight despite repeated reports to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
Illegal dumping along the Braamfontein Spruit greenbelt in Bryanston has taken a troubling turn.
Perpetrators are now offloading building rubble during the day, despite ongoing community complaints.
Local resident Cheena Maake said they have been fighting and reporting the issue of illegal dumping to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo since last year, but no positive action has been received. “I am very passionate about the beauty of the environment and keeping green spaces clean. I’m always chasing people around when they litter here, but last year, during winter time, one big truck came and dumped a lot of building rubble. We reported to City Parks and they kept saying they would come on Monday, but they never did.”
Read more: Sandown residents demand action as illegal dumping and squatters threaten their neighbourhood
Maake added that, on the morning of April 10, another truck came and dumped more rubble in the same greenbelt area. “We’ve got a lot of building rubble here on the Braamfontein Spruit greenbelt, from last year and this year. People are building, but they’re not responsible about discarding their building rubble. This is a threat to our greenspaces.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: During a site visit on April 10, Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackelford points out areas where building rubble has been repeatedly dumped since last year, with new waste added again that morning. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Ward103 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
During her site visit on April 10, Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackelford said, in September last year, one of the building construction trucks dumped a whole lot of rubble next to the green belt. “However, this morning I got alerted by a resident that, yet again, rubble had been dumped on our riverine area. Our green spaces are precious. This cannot happen. I’m asking residents to keep an eye out for all people who are illegally dumping. Please catch a video of it and send me the evidence.
Also read: Illegal night-time dumping threatens Bryanston’s Braamfontein Spruit greenbelt
“We need to start fining these people and making sure the people that are hiring these drivers who collect rubble are also fined, because it is their responsibility. It is their rubble, even if they get another driver to do it. It is unacceptable that the city now needs to come up and pick up again after residents.”
Shackleford added that, at the moment, she’s having a problem between City Parks and Pikitup, as to who is responsible to remove the rubble. “Between City Parks and Pikitup, we’re still trying to get one of them to come and remove the rubble. However, at present we’re having a big problem as to whose responsibility it is to remove this. I am going to push through my regional office to get me to keep the finger on the pulse as this needs to be removed, and it needs to be removed quickly.”
The publication reached out to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Pikitup for comment on April 10, 14, and 15, but none has been received. Updates will be provided once they become available.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
