Newcastle Municipality’s communications and customer relations manager responds to BHP litter issues
Mr Mthandeni Myende responded that the gazetting of the bylaws ‘is still on-going, but interim safety measures are required by the relevant stakeholders, including the South African Police Services.
The litter-infested Barry Hertzog Park shopping centre is again a source of controversy for surrounding homeowners.
The commercial centre, which comprises a few businesses and a student tavern, has become a breeding ground for litter bugs and other anti-social behaviour.
Papers, takeaway containers, bottles, and broken glass are a regular sight and according to a resident, who lives nearby, people from all around have been spotted dumping their household refuse at the centre.
Mthandeni Myende, Newcastle Municipality’s communications and customer relations manager, responds:
Mr Mthandeni Myende responded that the gazetting of the bylaws ‘is still on-going, but interim safety measures are required by the relevant stakeholders, including the South African Police Services.’
“The centre is not on municipal property; it is on private property; therefore, the centre management is responsible for the cleanliness of the parking lot. The centre pays for the municipal (refuse) bin, which is meant to be used by the tenants of the centre.
“The centre is also responsible for keeping the area around the bin clean. Please note that this is not a communal trash bin. The centre should fence off the area where the bin is placed to ensure that members of the public do not also use the skip bin.”
He explained that ‘skip is a demand service, meaning that the centre should alert the municipality when it needs to be emptied’. However, on average, Myende said the bin is serviced twice a week.
When asked when control would be taken at the centre to ensure that resident’s safety is prioritised, Myende claimed that the shopping complex is on private property and that the municipality had visited the complex for an inspection.
“A meeting will be held with all the relevant stakeholders, including SAPS, to ensure that the owners put in place all the required safety precautions,” Myende concluded.
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