Informal traders a concern for Rundle

Ten years after he was first elected as councillor of Ward 19, Alderman Bill Rundle continues to raise concerns about the activities of informal traders and vagrants living on and making use of a piece of land located on the corner of Aitken Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue.
The piece of land in question has been identified by Rundle as the City of Johannesburg’s and Eskom’s power servitude. The piece of land lies on the boundary between the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.
The activities came to his attention in 2011 after he was elected as ward councillor.
He said among the concerns were homeless individuals sleeping in an abandoned structure. Although Rundle is unsure if the structure is still being used as a shelter he believes it is likely.
Rundle said informal traders have used the location as a facility to sell and store their wares and have increased in number over the years.
“Residents of Leisure View Retirement Village and those living along Aitken Road are concerned with the activity in the servitude and believe the presence of the traders poses a security risk,” said Rundle
Rundle said residents of Leisure View are specifically concerned with the activity of the traders along the perimeter wall the retirement home shares with the servitude.
He said that some of the traders store their wares along the perimeter wall.
Besides Rundle's concerns of the informal traders infringing municipal by-laws and the resident’s security concerns, Rundle said the pavement along Aitken Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue are being damaged by motorists who interact with the traders.
Rundle said motorists who drive on the pavement to either purchase items from the traders, deliver or collect materials, damage the pavement.
“Large quantities of sand are being washed by the rain and driven onto the road by shoppers and vendors that causes issue further down up to Twelfth Street,” said Rundle.
He said because of the soil being washed down in 2011, several stormwater drains were blocked resulting in flooding at Edenhaven Retirement Village the same year.
Rundle said to resolve this the City of Ekurhuleni created a temporary solution in 2012 by creating tar embankments along the intersections of the avenues along Aitken Road.
When the NEWS visited the site on December 1, several informal traders could be seen selling their wares.
The soil erosion described by Rundle could be seen and in one location an underground electricity cable was exposed.
Rundle said although EMPD has conducted several operations at the location, most recently several months ago, the problem continues to persist.
Rundle said the operations, which require additional personnel and vehicles, take time to prepare.
“I have reported the matter, escalated it and had site meetings with various municipal stakeholders in an attempt to get this issue resolved.
“I do believe that with the new administration in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg there will be a political will to address many of the prevailing issues including this matter,” said Rundle.
To resolve the matter, Rundle believes the cities of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Eskom need to work together to restrict access to servitude.
Rundle believes this can be done by reconstructing the pavement along Aitken Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue and fencing the servitude off.
He said by reconstructing the pavement with proper kerbstones it will allow the vegetation to regrow and prevent further erosion while fencing the servitude off will restrict access to it.
Until access to the servitude is restricted Rundle said law enforcement will need to continue to conduct operations and enforce municipal bylaws as they have done in the past.
Request for comment was sent to the CoJ, City Power, Eskom, CoE and EMPD on December 1 requesting comment on December 3 at 14:00.
At the time of going to print no comment was received.