DA launches clean-up campaign to tackle illegal dumping in Eldorado Park

The DA recently held a clean-up campaign at a public park on Spruit Avenue in Old Eldorado Park, near Eldorado Park Secondary School.

The party said the campaign was launched in response to residents’ complaints about illegal dumping, overgrown public spaces and poor service delivery.

Speaking during the clean-up campaign, DA representative Vasco da Gama said the party has deployed a team of 10 people to clean different areas of the township daily.

“We started in Ext 9 at a place called Django. There used to be events and many other activities there, but because of the long grass and vagrants living in the area, it was no longer being used,” he said.

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Da Gama said the site has since been cleaned and will soon be used for a parkrun.

He said the team then moved to a clinic in Ext 9 before continuing to the park on Spruit Avenue, which had become unsafe for children because of the presence of vagrants.

“We are now at a park that was no longer being used by children because they were afraid of the vagrants.”

According to da Gama, workers cleared reeds and demolished a shack where drug users had been staying.

“In the middle of the reeds was a shack where drug users used to gather and sleep at night. We cut down the reeds, demolished the shack and told them to leave the area. It is now safe for children to come out.”

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Some Eldorado Park residents praised the DA’s efforts, while others criticised the campaign, claiming it was only taking place because of the upcoming local government elections.

They said the problem had existed for years and questioned why action was only being taken months before the elections.

Responding to the criticism that political parties only launch clean-up campaigns during election periods, da Gama said the initiative was driven by residents’ complaints.

“The reason for cleaning these areas is because communities are complaining. We have been conducting door-to-door visits in different areas, and the situation you see here is the same throughout the wards.

That tells you the city’s entities are ineffective. They are not doing what they are supposed to do.”

He said Johannesburg should have cleaning teams operating in every ward.

“Johannesburg is supposed to have 10 or more people in each ward cleaning. The city is paying people from our rates and taxes, and you can see what the situation is.”

Looking ahead, da Gama said that once work at the current site is complete, the team will cut long grass near Eldorado Secondary School before beginning to repair potholes next week.

“We are going to cut the grass there, make it nice and neat, and clean the curb along the side of the road,” he said.