Police on Friday dispersed several vendors at the bottom of Rinaldo Road. The vendors were ousted after the DA, the Freedom Front Plus and the Glen Hills Rate Payer’s Association joined forces to clear the bush that the political parties said had become an “eyesore”.
What’s more the rubbish left by the vendors and their customers, according to DA ward councillor Heniz De Boer, was causing some people to mistake the bush for a dumping site.
More than 20 bags of refuse was collected by the volunteers within a matter to two hours. Hundreds of sweet wrappers and chip packets were strewn among the vegetation. Old furniture and other dumped items were also removed from the site.
“We have cleaned up the area in the past. It is an ongoing struggle. The problem is that the bylaws are not properly policed, ” said De Boer. He added that some cities, such as Pretoria, are considering removing and banning all local traders. “It is becoming too big of a problem. We are waiting for the new dumping and littering bylaws to be announced,” he added.
The group of volunteers were elated when several residents noticed their tireless efforts and offered to assist. Residents are urged make the effort to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.