Illegal dumping has reached crisis levels in Rosettenville, La Rochelle, Booysens and the Joburg CBD, with residents, shop owners and pedestrians now forced to walk through streets littered with rubbish, stagnant water and rats.

On July 7, the JMPD conducted an oversight visit to address illegal dumping across Joburg. The oversight was held as a bylaw enforcement campaign and to identify areas that need to be cleaned up.

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Illegal dumping has reached crisis levels in Rosettenville, La Rochelle, Booysens and the Joburg CBD, with residents, shop owners and pedestrians now forced to walk through streets littered with rubbish, stagnant water and rats. Full story on southerncourier.co.za

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The growing piles of waste have created what community members describe as an unbearable health hazard. Rubbish dumped on pavements, behind shops and in open spaces is collecting water, attracting rodents, and producing a stench that lingers for blocks.

Motorists throwing trash from car windows, shops disposing of waste onto sidewalks, and pedestrians adding to the mess have turned key areas into dumping sites.

When it rains, garbage blocks the drains and causes water to pool, worsening odours and hygiene conditions.

“It’s not just ugly anymore, it’s dangerous,” said one Booysens shop owner. “We’re sweeping, but the next day it’s worse. The rats are everywhere.”

Amid the pollution, informal waste collectors have become a critical, though overwhelmed, line of defence. Men and women who collect plastic and glass for recycling are often the only ones clearing rubbish from roadsides and open lots.

Fistoz Notyawa, a recycler who picks up waste all around Joburg, said the work is both a lifeline and a warning sign for the city:

“The rubbish is a major problem in Joburg. We do earn some money from recycling the plastic and glass we collect, and that helps us survive. But to be honest we fear for what this pollution will do to the city. The waste keeps coming every day. If we don’t clean, the rats and the smell take over. We are trying to help, but we can’t do it alone.”

The JMPD says it is aware of the problem and is increasing patrols in hotspot areas. Their spokesperson, Xolani Fihla, said:

“Illegal dumping is not just a bylaw issue; it is a public health risk. We are working with the City and community groups to identify offenders, issue fines, and remove waste from hotspots in Rosettenville, La Rochelle, Booysens and the CBD. But we also need residents and businesses to stop dumping and to report those who do. Our streets cannot become dumping grounds.”

The City has urged residents to use designated waste sites and to report illegal dumping on 0860 56 28 74 or 0860-JOBURG.