A historic structure in ruins.
This is how Ward 37 Councillor Bruna Haipel explained her dismay with the upkeep of Pear Park, a century old park in Hendrik Potgieter Street, Alberton North, which has now become an illegal dumping site.
“This is the first park in Alberton and houses the town’s first water pump – a structure that is easily about a 100-years-old and should be treated and recognised as a heritage site,” she said.
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Broken glass, household waste and stripped electronics, possibly by metal collectors, are seen scattered across the park. Inside the water pump various sorts of rubbish have been dumped, including decaying animal bones with an accompanying stench.
Also read: Illegal dumping rages on in Alberton township
“This park is no longer safe to be used as a recreation area nor is it safe for children to play in as they can easily injure themselves with, among other, the broken glass pieces,” Haipel said.
She said a dumping site is operating in Heidelberg Road, that is open and free to the public.
“It must be residents of the area who are dumping at the park. They should lead by example because the moment one person starts to dump illegally, others follow in their footsteps. Residents need to report such activities to the municipality.”
Also read: Shame on dumping neighbours
The RECORD approached the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) for comment, but had not received any feedback at the time of going to print.
Some of the questions asked were:
• What is the municipality planning to do to curb this problem and will cleaners be sent to clean the park?
• How much is the fine that can be imposed on a person caught dumping illegally?
• Is there any number that residents can phone to report dumping or when they see a culprit dumping illegally?
Related articles:
• Secure area now used as dumping ground
• Dumping by hawkers kills business
• Where are the dumping sites?
