Illegal dumping continues unchecked

Ekurhuleni's citywide illegal dumping remains a major threat to the environment

September 12, 2022

Fanie Mthupha 1 minute read

The open municipal-owned pieace of land in Leeuwpoort Street has been turned into a dumping site for all sorts of waste.

The issue of illegal dumping in Boksburg and across the city remains a serious problem, and authorities urge those responsible to stop poisoning the environment.

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos is among those who expressed irritation with the growing trend of illegal dumping in Boksburg and voiced his frustration with the government’s ‘inability’ to clamp down on the problem.
“The Boksburg CBD looks terrible because of the high level of illegal dumping that continues unchecked. Sadly, officials seem unable to decisively deal with the copious amounts of illegal dumping taking place in the public spaces across the city.

“Residents continuously throw their litter into the pile and easily get away with it. Some businesses, including hawkers, are also culprits, especially those trying to avoid paying more for refuse collection.
“The limited number of available bins and skips also exacerbate the matter, because when the bins are full people dump their refuse on the streets. I am urging community members to stop damaging our environment.”

De Vos also reminded residents that dumping on any public land is illegal and an offence.

Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos takes a picture of a leaking water meter that has been sending clean drinking water down a drain for some time.

Some of the illegally dumped litter in the Boksburg CBD makes its way to broken drains. Seen here is Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos.

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos believes that the limited number of available bins and skips results in people chucking their refuse on the streets.

Illegal dumping causes blockages
Speaking during a visit to one of the notorious illegal dumping sites in the city (Elandsfontein), Ekurhuleni’s whip of council Khetha Shandu called on the public to assist the government in curbing illegal dumping.

He said he had observed that illegal dumping was a thorn in the flesh of the city as it also resulted in sewage and stormwater drain blockages.

“The continuous illegal dumping at the Elandsfontein wetland poses a danger to learners from the nearby Sizwe Secondary School, aqua life, and birds. It’s also pushing the underground water to the nearby school. As a result, the school had to close two of its playgrounds which are now water-logged. The stability of the school foundation is under threat.”

The whip, however, indicated that the city had deployed teams to do the unblocking of the sewer and stormwater systems in the area.
Shandu has called on the residents to report illegal dumping by calling 0860 543 000.

Also Read: Illegally dumped waste costs metro R80-m a year