City is on top of overgrown grass and dumping

JOHANNESBURG Mayor Herman Mashaba said the City of Johannesburg faces a serious challenge with regards to grass cutting and vegetation control, but it is committed to working towards restoring the aesthetic beauty of the city.

A number of different departments and entities were historically tasked with the responsibility of grass cutting and vegetation control, but since this arrangement is cumbersome, the city is in the process of ensuring that this responsibility is centralised to operate under Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ).

“We have no doubt that this will dramatically improve the existing state of affairs. Recently we announced that Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) had issued a purchase order of R4 million to JCPZ for the purpose of grass cutting, which has made a difference in a number of communities,” said the mayor.

During a recent oversight visit to Riverlea, the issues of privately owned properties not being maintained and illegal dumping were brought to Mashaba’s attention.

“It must be emphasised that it is not only the community of Riverlea which faces these challenges, but Johannesburg as a whole. It costs the city approximately R170 million per annum to clean street littering and illegal dumping sites. This is money that could have been utilised to enhance service delivery. I implore all property owners to adhere to their responsibility to maintain their properties,” said the mayor.

In terms of city by-laws and policies that regulate public health and the cleaning and clearing of vacant properties, those who fail to honour their responsibilities will be served with a notice, instructing them to take the necessary steps in terms of general upkeep and grass-cutting.

If property owners fail to comply with the notice, the city will make use of its own resources to do the required work on behalf of the property owners and debit their municipal accounts accordingly.

As a positive step to eradicate illegal dumping, Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s by-law management unit has initiated a Community Active Programme, where residents can actively be involved in eradicating illegal dumping.

Residents are urged to report illegal dumping by submitting the date, time and location of the incident, type of material dumped and, if possible, a photograph showing the licence plate of the vehicle used, to any of the following platforms:

· Joburg Metro Police city by-law enforcement: 082 467 9434.

· Joburg Connect: 011 375 5555 (office hours) or 011 375 5911 (after hours).

· Email Pikitup: info@pikitup.co.za.

· Twitter: @CleanerJoburg.

Any individual or property owner found to be guilty of illegal dumping will be fined R1 500.

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