Clean-up aims to help community exposed to contamination

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in conjunction with stakeholders embarked on a clean-up campaign near the Malatsi Park in Ivory Park Ext 13 on 26 May.

The campaign was attended by Ward 77 councillor Yoliswa Twala, employees of Pikitup, ward inspector Tumelo Moloi, environmental health practitioners, City of Johannesburg Eco Guides, members of the Community Workers Programme and residents.

Chairperson of the EPWP, Boitumelo Siboni said the issue of illegal dumpsites severely affects the community and exposes them to the risk of contamination.

“We saw it fit that we take this initiative, together with stakeholders, to clean up the area and raise awareness to community members. We chose this area because it’s a public park where children play and it is also close to the stormwater channel. This illegal dumping also causes flooding due to blocked drains and sewage,” said Siboni.

Twala revealed that illegal dumping has become an increasing problem in the area.

“We are trying our best to curb the problem through volunteering to clean up as we are doing today. We need to raise awareness about what people are doing because Pikitup does collect waste in the area but residents continue to dump rubbish illegally, anyway,” she said.

Environmental health practitioner, Sonja du Plooy added that illegal dumping of waste has become a culture and that it was also exacerbated by overcrowding in yards that lacked facilities for rubbish collection.

“There are a few communities identified where services do not reach and frequency needs to be increased. We have had cases where a child got sick due to playing with needles that were dumped by diabetic people,” concluded Du Plooy.

What else – apart from awareness campaigns – can be done to get rid of illegal waste dumping? Tweet us @MidrandReporter