Is it recycling, illegal dumping or job opportunity?
SUNDWONER- Metro Police orders alleged vagrants who are also illegal waste collectors to vacate the land in Sundowner.
Metro Police orders alleged vagrants who are suspected of sleeping on the open land along Northumberland Avenue Road, behind the Honeydew Bowling Club, to leave the property on 19 September.
Members of the JMPD found more than 10 alleged vagrants with different recyclable items including plastics bottels, mattresses and told them to leave the open land after they had receive complaints from the residents.
“Residents have been complaining about rats, smells and illegal dumping on this vacant land. When we got here we found these illegal collectors of waste who are allegedly sleeping here without permission. We have told them to leave and found a place to leave somewhere else,” explains Devonia Mashilo of Environmental Health Department in Roodepoort.
Mashilo added that while the idea of collecting recyclable items is appreciated but these men have been given plastics by Pikitup to put unwanted waste items for collection and to find a proper place to rent and stay.
“Last week, these place caught fire after one of these guys, who are leaving under these trees, was cooking and suddenly there was fire. He said he as cooking. Cooking where? Putting us in danger and the fire affected our electrical fence. We called the police and the fire department but they did not show up. We had to put out the fire before it turned more dangerous. I’m glad that they are here today,” explains Thomas McLean, of Honeydew Bowling Club.
One of the men, who is originally from Zimbambwe says they cannot find jobs and they cannot afford to rent a shack in Zandspruit or Cosmo City.
He said rent ranges from R350 upwards and they cannot afford it.
“This is our way of sustaining our lives. We do not commit any crimes and now the police are chasing us away without giving us a warning to sort our items properly. We are suffering. We have been looking for jobs but we can’t get any,” complains Sam Mtshali.
Sergeant Wandile Mrubata of JMPD said that always receive complaints from residents in Honeydew and Randpark Ridge, but these people will find another place to stay illegally.
“These men are divided, and they do not want to rent one place and stay together. We have been told that there are different plots. Plot 1 is for the South African, plot 2 is for Zimbabwean and plot 3 for Lesothos. They stay together depending on the place of origin, but they cannot stay here. They have to find another place to stay,” concludes Mrubata.
