Illegal dumping rife in Marlboro and Alexandra

Most vacant land in Marlboro and Alexandra is used for illegal dumping, despite the city’s pledge to enforce bylaws.

In Marlboro, land between 3rd and 6th streets and 4th and 6th avenues are unsightly dumpsites which are growing daily. Residents of nearby disused factories and workers operating in the area, say dumping was a free-for-all and a lucrative business for truck owners, but a danger to everyone’s health and safety.

They say small and large truck owners are dumping with impunity, some taking as long as 10 minutes to unload using shovels as their trucks were not reticulated. Most was building rubble, discarded household items and disused office furniture.

Resident, Johannes Dube said almost everyone was culpable as they threw paper wrappings, plastic bags, old tyres and clothing on top of the dumps and also along the streets without a second thought.

Others blamed truck owners for starting this indiscriminate dumping, saying they brought loads of rubble from elsewhere as there was no construction going on in Marlboro and Alex.

The dumping is in defiance of clear warnings.

Earlier this year Marlboro Metro police Superintendent Ignus Jonas, stressed that they would intensify anti-dumping drives, and impounded trucks caught dumping in Setswetla informal settlement along the Jukskei River. The drivers and owners were charged but seemingly paid the fines with ease.

Also as an anti-dumping strategy, local councillors proposed the development of housing and community gardens in the open spaces. The city committed to purchase the land – but this is still to materialise.

Acknowledging the problem, Jonas said this time though, there was a significant reduction in the number of trucks dumping illegally in the area after they had intensified patrols.

“Most of them appear to be going to registered dumpsites, some will try to sneak in but will be caught,” he said.

Jonas added that local, illegal dumping was to cut costs as registered sites were far off, and also because their vehicles were un-roadworthy and likely to be impounded on the way.

He urged for awareness education to encourage the community to report dumping in their area.

Details: 011 490 1552.

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