Fairland Pikitup municipal dump closed for the foreseeable future

The Fairland Pikitup municipal dump has been closed for the foreseeable future.

Spokesperson Anthony Selepe said, “The site is closed following the process of public consultations and now we wait for feedback to direct us on what must happen going forward.”

He says the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) should take a maximum of three months to provide feedback. In the meantime, he discourages communities from bringing waste of any kind to the site as there are no staff to assist. Alternative sites are available.

The situation turned sour when the city, without proper processes being in place decided to expand the existing garden refuse site into a mixed-use dump which caused a negative impact on the surrounding area.

The paper published an article titled, Dump angers residents [Week ending July 8, 2022] which explained that Pikitup did not consult them when plans were approved to expand the dump, the site has become an eyesore, with residents dumping unwanted goods on the pavement. Many believe criminal elements are also taking advantage of the situation and have contributed to the mushrooming of indigent people who come to the adjacent park. They gather there with the intention of retrieving recyclable items to earn an income, or to use for themselves.

ALSO READ: Community In Blue patrollers, the other men and women in blue that deserve thanks.

A further article was published, titled Dump site to close soon, [Week ending September 2, 2022] which conveyed that the Fairland site would remain open until the Panorama municipal dump re-opens. This has however not been the case.

Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs explained, “Residents have been given the opportunity to engage with Pikitup and the environmental specialist on various platforms and meetings. The draft report noting all the concerns was submitted to GDARD on September 22. A directive will be issued which will give residents an opportunity to review and report. I had requested that the garden/recycle site to be moved to an alternative location, namely corner Still and Johannes Streets. The request has been declined by the JPC (Johannesburg Property Company).” The dump will be temporarily closed while the Environmental Impact Assessment and compliance issues are addressed.

“The closure of the Fairland dump or waste management site has stirred many mixed feelings. On the one hand, it may reduce the problems relating to vagrants that have been using the site to gather some dumped furniture and goods to sell, but on the other hand, some residents feel the closure will make it more difficult to dump garden refuse. This may lead to increased illegal dumping,” said Fairland CPF chair, Dr Gulam Karim.

ALSO READ: Fairland illegal dumping issues to be addressed

He further notes that many feel there was insufficient consultation with residents when the city planned the expansion of the existing site. “Properties in the vicinity of the Smit Street dump site may have been concerned about the reality of devaluing their properties, as it could lead to more vagrants and informal business activity.”

Elmarie Fourie lives on Market Street, a stone’s throw away from the dump, and says a new ‘colony’ of homeless people has set up in the Smit Street park. “The numbers are growing. Selling and using drugs and alcohol have such a negative effect, we don’t feel safe to walk to the shops which are just around the corner.”

She and her family bought their home recently and had they known what was to come they would have bought elsewhere. “It was a small garden refuse site, but it’s become a nightmare.”

ALSO READ: Community called to comment on the future of the Fairland Garden Site

The Pikitup Waterval depot has asked residents to use the Greenside dump on Victory Road as an alternative until a solution is found for Fairland. There is no update on when the Panorama site might reopen.

ALSO READ: Fairland CPF gives community update on issues affecting the precint