The closure of mini dumping sites in Brakpan during the lockdown has seen an increase in illegal dumping throughout town.
For one Brakpan resident, who lives near the mini disposal site in Brenthurst, not only is illegal dumping near his property an eyesore, but it may prove to be hazardous to his health.
George Sokonech and his wife Shirley live on the premises of Muriel Brand School.
The Brenthurst mini garden disposal site near their house has been closed during the lockdown, which has resulted in rubbish being dumped in the open field behind George’s home, posing a major health risk.
George is a cancer survivor and has a weakened immune system.
“Dumping became a huge problem as residents arrived in front of locked gates and then went ahead and dumped their trash on the sides of the road leading up to the dump site,” said George.
“Some people were more understanding and left without dumping their rubbish.”
Their home is about 500m from the site.
George is responsible for the maintenance of Muriel Brand School and Shirley teaches at the school.
They have lived on the property since 2004.
Piles of rubbish have ended up against the outside wall of the property, resulting in a plague of rats, mice and flies.
“Some days the stench is unbearable,” said George.
After reporting it to the SAPS and other authorities, the dumped rubbish – which filled three skips – was cleared last week.
“This was a huge help, but people have started dumping again.”
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When the Herald visited the site on Monday, the area was littered with rubbish and the skips of removed rubbish stood in front of the site’s locked gates.
The Herald also observed employees of the site standing outside a closed gate.
When asked when they would be opening, staff told the Herald they didn’t know.
Brandon Pretorius, DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, expressed his disappointment with the situation.
“The lockdown has brought some new challenges, but the way residents are dealing with it is creating a new problem in the form of illegal dumping,” he said.
“The City of Ekurhuleni’s satellite dump sites have been closed since the start of the lockdown, which makes sense as residents should not be moving around unless for essential reasons.
“It is shocking that some Brakpans residents, the very same residents who would complain week in and week out about the state of our town, are now the culprits and the main reason behind Brakpan currently looking the way it does.
“Illegal dumping has increased significantly around Brakpan and it should not go unnoticed.
“There should be no excuse from any resident as refuse is removed weekly as per the schedule.”
Pretorius urged residents to report illegal dumping to ensure the town is kept clean and to bring those responsible to book.
“We have also started looking at CCTV footage close to the sites where the illegal dumping is taking place in an effort to identify the culprits so that authorities can deal with the matter accordingly,” he said.
“We all find ourselves in the same position and it is not right that others do as they please.
“As the ward councillor, I will do my best to ensure that the highest penalty possible is imposed on those responsible.”
Pretorius can be contacted on 083 308 7821.
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