Lonehill residents bring up concerns about Jukskei smell
LONEHILL – Residents are still frustrated at the foul smell coming from the Jukskei River as now the smells are possible causes of health risks.
The Jukskei Action Group with the Lonehill Residents Association called a meeting with the public on 29 October at Crawford Preparatory School to discuss further issues with the smell of the Jukskei River.
A number of ward councillors were present, including David Foley of Ward 94, Candice James of Ward 93 and Annette Deppe of Ward 132.
Officials from the Department of Environment and Infrastructure Service for City of Johannesburg also sat in at the meeting to hear the concerns of the community to look into the matter.
A number of residents shared their concerns about the smell coming from the river. The Fourways Review previously reported about these concerns in Locals kick up a stink about Jukskei River smell [Week ending 24 July].
Resident in Lonehill, Nici Lavine-Craig described the conditions of the smell she and her family have experienced for the last three years. She said, alongside other residents, the smell comes at different times during the day.
“Every night, we get a smell. Sometimes, it’s so bad it wakes us up in the middle of the night. There is definitely a health impact – nosebleeds, constant sniffling, sinusitis, headaches.”
Arveen Gobind, who has an engineering background said when he lived in Pineslopes, he did not have a smell of the river. However, once moving to Lonehill seven years ago, he experienced it for the first time.
“I started doing some research in the smell of the river. A few other residents and I visited the [Leeuwkop] prison last year. I told the head of the prison that the smell is an animal type by the piggery,” he said.
Benedict Itholeng from the environment and infrastructure service department said that based on what everyone present said at the meeting, some feedback will be given next year February in order to allow for an investigation to take place. “We still would need to get word from the national department since the prison is at a provincial level.
“What we can do is have a meeting like this to hear from the community since we cannot take action against the prison.
“We have noted your concerns since our other colleagues are here, and will come up with a solution like we did with the incinerator. Everything is still in speculation at the moment.”
