Motorists using the parking at the back of Stillers and Standard Bank have, on a daily basis, been complaining about a sewer that was cleaned a while ago, but the rubble and debris was left behind by the metro.
“Now massive rats are running around. There is a caravan selling food and we want to know from the metro if this is not a health risk?” asks Bobby Beukman, who has been parking there for more 13 years.
She says it is getting so bad, that the rats actually ate the electric cables of someone’s car.
According to metro spokesman Sam Modiba, the metro recently visited the site and found that people also dump pieces of material on this heap of rubbish.
“An investigation revealed that the problem originated from a sewer line which was blocked resulting in an overflow from a manhole situated in the passage between Stillers and Standard Bank in Fifth Avenue, CBD,” says Modiba.
At present it is not blocked and according to informal traders, the refuse and debris behind the trader caravan was removed by the metro and the storm water drain was opened.
The Environmental Health Directorate conducts inspections at informal food traders to monitor hygiene practices and to render health education.
Modiba adds the informal food traders at the Palm Springs parking area are also being monitored.
“The traders must make use of the refuse removal service rendered by the metro. The storage of refuse will also be addressed through health education,” concludes Modiba.
The metro did not respond on the issue of rats running around and what danger they might pose if the rat population grows.
