Last week I saw a post on Facebook about the Herald’s clean-up campaign and have been following the progress.
On Monday, 15 April I saw a post that the Randfontein Publicity Association shared about how many people were involved and how many bags were collected. Then I saw the Herald’s article about the campaign’s success. Well done to the Herald and all involved, this is a great initiative.
On one of the Facebook posts, I saw a comment from a resident who lives in Elandsvlei. The resident complained about the situation at the Jabulani informal settlement and my blood started to boil – all over again!
The woman, Lea Botha, who I know is in a wheelchair, offered to help clean up when the campaign reaches Elandsvlei. Despite her disability, she is willing to get involved and help clean up, especially in the Jabulani area – in fact Lea has begged for help in this area.
I too have complained to my area councillor about the litter and possible health hazards etc. at Jabulani – on several occasions. I know it has been reported to the municipality, but they seem intent on ignoring the requests and pleas to clean up. It is absolutely disgusting to see how the rubbish is piling up and the municipality does nothing about it. One of the municipal workers who lives at Jabulani told me how the toilets back up – they are not being emptied or repaired by the municipality. This is probably why the residents cross the road and dump their ‘night buckets’ in the veld and sometimes even on the pavement.
This horrendous situation cannot be allowed to go on! Just imagine what diseases are brewing and we haven’t even suffered a cyclone or natural disaster! The municipality’s excuse is without exception: ‘there’s no money for petrol, etc.’. I am so tired of hearing that excuse! Why on earth is the person in charge not doing his job? How come has he not been reported to his managers or superiors or even the Mayor? This is totally indicative of the attitude the municipality seems to have adopted – ‘we don’t really care’.
Quite honestly, I would not advise any members of the public to clean up that area unless they have a front-end loader or hazard suits, since there is human waste among the refuse.
But, I would advise the Rand West City Waste Management Department to get off their butts and do more than just promise to clean up Jabulani informal settlement area and at least provide the residents with the means to dispose of their waste in an acceptable manner.
It’s time to take action and if the residents of this town have any pride, they will join the campaign to clean up. The municipality has failed the residents of Randfontein dismally. It’s time to take action.
