Illegal dumping on Malacca Road continues
The Greenwood Park CPF and ratepayers of the area have levelled blame at residents of the informal settlement, who, they say, actively encourage people to illegally dump so they can scavenge salvageable goods to use in their homes.
THE issue of illegal dumping on Ryde Place and Malacca Road in Glenhills has been a longstanding problem.
However, in recent months, the issue has worsened with mounds of litter accumulating at the intersection of the two roads and now on both sides of the road bordering the Malacca Road Informal Settlement.
The Greenwood Park CPF and ratepayers of the area have levelled blame at residents of the informal settlement, who, they say, actively encourage people to illegally dump so they can scavenge salvageable goods to use in their homes.
The rest of the litter is discarded in large mounds that often spill onto the road making it difficult for two cars to pass abreast.
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Residents of the settlement have admitted to taking items destined for the dump from some vehicles that pass by but say the vast majority of illegal dumping is done by force and threats.
Northglen News spoke to informal settlement residents, Lawyer Gwala and Sipho Gumede who said they have even been threatened at gunpoint by some of those involved in illegal dumping.
“I’ve lived here for 15 years and I agree illegal dumping is a problem,” Gwala said. “It is true that we take items that we can use for our homes but there is a lot of dumping happening at night. There are also people who are turned away from the dump and because they are frustrated, they illegally dump. If you drive past you will see a lot of building rubble which we don’t need but it is just dumped on the side of the road. They also dump on Ryde Place because it is quieter. We have had people threaten us with violence.”
Fellow resident, Sipho Gumede concurred with Gwala’s statement.
“There is a group of men and we sit at the intersection. We are all unemployed, we wouldn’t be sitting here if we had jobs. We do take items from vehicles and that is because the illegal dumpers give us money. However, there are many people that come here after hours and dump. Some have even threatened us and thrown the rubbish on the ground. I’ve seen someone pull out a gun and threaten me when I asked them why they were dumping,” Gumede said.
Also Read: Community tackles illegal dumping on Roadhouse Crescent
Last week, Arianne Hayes-Hill, who actively helps the community with upliftment projects through her NPO, The Seed Fund, said she was worried about the ever-growing brazenness of some illegal dumpers.
“We have hosted a number of clean-ups, but the problem continues. Some illegal dumping is also taking place on Legacy Road at the upper half of the settlement. I’ve actively engaged with the community to stop accepting rubbish too, but I also acknowledge that sometimes they can’t avoid it. Often the community is blamed and yes, they will admit to it, but there is definitely illegal dumping happening outside of those parameters which they are not responsible for,” she said.
