Dumping in Malvern is once again making the news.
According to Ward 118 councillor Neuren Pietersen, dumping is getting out of control and said individuals dump piles of rubbish all over the streets.
“There is so much rubbish that the culprits dump it all over Ward 118,” said Pietersen.
A resident who runs a business in Malvern East, Julie Antonio said she is experiencing the same problem. Antonio said neighbours dump their rubbish on the pavement and servitude of their property which, obviously, affects her business. “We have spoken to them on several occasions but to no avail. Rodents are all over the place and cause damage to the vehicles we work on,” said Antonio.
“Our business has been in this location since 2007 and we’ve had no trouble with dumping until about eight months ago.
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“Essentially, our main problem is twofold: Firstly, it is extremely frustrating trying to report the matter to the Ekurhuleni Council. One can never get hold of the right person to talk to and you spend endless minutes on the phone being shunted from pillar to post and back again with no concrete result. It would really help if they have dedicated and visible numbers and persons the public are able to contact, not only to report dumping but also to follow up on complaints.
“Secondly, Pikitup does not collect or remove any garbage if it’s not in a bag or if the bags are damaged in any way, something which happens frequently, due to street people looking for items to recycle,” she said.
Pietersen said, normally, one would feel encouraged with so much building activity, as this would indicate positive economic growth. “Alas! That is not the case here. Many, if not most or all of the incidents pictured are from mini backyard dwellings, the legality of which is questionable – this will be tackled later in the year. Developers must note that it is illegal to dump or store on the pavement unless they have applied for a permit.”
By the time of going to print, no comment had been received from Pikitup’s Muzi Mkhwanazi.
Edited by Beryl Knipe
