Kliprivier Drive continues to deteriorate
The main arterial road which links the north to the south is looking more and more like a dumpster with each passing day.
KLIPRIVIER DRIVE – On Tuesday April 1, SOJO arranged with Booysens SAPS, Environmental Health, Pikitup and Comaro CHRONICLE/ Southern COURIER to do an inspection in three specific hot spot areas which have been plagued with continuous dumping over the past ten years. These areas, however, are not the only spots where dumping is happening, as unsightly heaps can be seen all along the 12km stretch from M1 Booysens off ramp up until and beyond Swartkoppies Road which crosses Klipriver Drive.
At the Aspen intersection a multimillion rand shopping centre is currently being built. “This huge investment will bring new visitors to our beautiful southern hillsides. Why are we not protecting our open spaces and walkways? Are we not proud southerners?,” asks Nicky Vakaloudis, CEO of SOJO.
SOJO and team stopped and spoke to the people who occupy the homes and flats where the hideous dumping is happening over the walls facing Klipriver Drive. The three houses in Jackson Street, West Turffontein clearly have a recycling business going on inside their premises and the unwanted remains get dumped on the walkway in Klipriver. Booysens SAPS indicated that these homes are already under NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) investigation due to a number of criminal activities, drugs, robberies and domestic violence taking place. The homes do not have any form of facilities such as water and electricity. There are two-year-old babies running in the streets unsupervised. Rats the size of cats infects these homes. Why has council not intervened here before? This behaviour is totally unacceptable and needs to stop right now. Warnings were issued and follow up action will take place.
A few kms down, are the council flats named Nola Courts, in Chrisville. The precast wall has a gap where the residents of these flats come and happily dump all their household refuse on the walkway. Ironically someone has painted “Please do not dump here”.
“Again we spoke to the residents who claimed that they do not have means to dispose their rubbish, as there is only one skip servicing all the flats in that area. They complained that there are huge rats scrambling in the rubbish and fear when they need to pass the rubbish heap to get to their destination. Do these people even realise that they are the cause for the infestations? A meeting will be arranged with all the residents of Nola Courts together with the Ward Councillor and Environmental Health to understand their challenges and work on an educational plan that will be sustainable. Failing to achieve ownership responsibility and accountability behaviour, serious actions will be taken to have the area restored,” added Vakaloudis.
Coming off the M1 Booysens off ramp, on corner Booysens Road and Nelson Road (opposite the Booysens Police Station) is a recycling business happening on the walkway, there are about 20 people sleeping and drinking alcohol on the pavement outside the old FNB Bank building, the grass is overgrown and the filth continues to pile up due to no service delivery in this very small cul-de-sac street.
SOJO has reported these illegal activities, by-law infringements and lack of service delivery but there has been absolutely no change. Furthermore there is a recruiting business next to a SOJO member that do not provide refuse facilities for their casual staff and every month end, during stock day, the street looks like a mini landfill.
“During our inspection, business people came out their premises to complain about the unruly behaviour of people living and running their businesses on the pavements. They were very unhappy about the state of Nelson Road. PIKITUP and Environmental Health issued warnings but further investigations need to take place with Social Department and JMPD.
“Elections are around the corner. Where are our ward councillors? SOJO will continue to apply pressure to have these areas cleared up – enough is enough!” concluded Vakaloudis.
For more information, contact Nicky Vakaloudis, CEO of SOJO Business and Tourism 011 493 7880, info@sojo.co.za, 082 481 8746.
