Council spokesperson, Willie Maphosa says the infrastructure department is still investigating the matter on the purported sewer leakage and the said potholes in King Street.
Meanwhile, he says all businesses are constantly reprimanded for dumping waste in King Street, in particular. ‘Our bylaws are still being promulgated and it is difficult to police the situation properly until the process is completed,’ he added. ‘Most of the litter comes from businesses in the vicinity. Our street sweepers clean these areas every morning but, from when the businesses open till the time they close, they continue to litter and the street is back to its old, filthy self.
‘After the trucks have been, people living in the streets and recyclers tear up the bags put out by businesses in search of food and recyclables. They also pose a danger by illegally burning waste and we do not have the mechanism to control them,’ he added.
‘The equipment the street sweepers use is for loose, dry waste and cannot clean waste on sewage water for health reasons. The municipality also does not have the resources to collect the rubble that is illegally dumped by the construction works of the same businesses in the vicinity.
‘There are types of waste that the generator or consumer, themselves, must dispose of at the landfill site. When the municipal refuse truck teams are on the run, they are not in a position to stop and pick up the loose waste all over the street; they only take already packaged waste since they have the whole town to keep clean.
‘It would be very difficult, if not illegal, to put out a container in the place that was suggested as it would contravene road and traffic legislation.
‘All we can do is repeat our strong appeal to individuals and businesses in the area to help us keep the area clean and neat. The things we are asking businesses and residents to do are not unfamiliar to civilised people – put all your waste into safely closed refuse bags and put it out only at the designated area in front of your own building between 07:00 and 09:00, at the latest, every day except Sunday. Never put out waste after hours and report any person contravening the above,’ he appealed.
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