The Tshwane metro and the University of Pretoria are discussing a permanent solution to eradicate illegal dumping along the N4 highway.
For several months, residents have been complaining over a portion of land being a hotbed of illegal dumping along Stanza Bopape Street, stretching from the Colbyn wetland to Cussonia Avenue and part of Koedoespoort.
The area is riddled with building rubble and household waste, which has caused a major health hazard for nearby dwellers.
University of Pretoria spokesperson Rikus Delport said these sites will be cleared once a permanent solution has been found to prevent further dumping.
“The Tshwane task team instructed UP not to clear the dumping from these sites, since it would merely lead to more illegal dumping,” he said.
“In this regard, UP has been liaising with the roads and waste management departments of the City of Tshwane.”
Delport said the university has been engaging with the representatives of these departments since October 2023.
“We have also involved other stakeholders such as Sanbi (South African National Biodiversity Institute) and Bakwena. We have also taken the stakeholders on a site visit to discuss the way forward,” said Delport.
According to Delport, these small parcels of land opposite the Pretoria Botanical Gardens are part of the remainder of Koedoespoort 456/JR expropriated in the 1960s when the N1/N4 highways were constructed.
“At the time, the parcels of land should have been transferred to the city and Sanral since these parcels are public roads and road reserves such as parts of Stanza Bopape, Meiring Naude and Cussonia Avenue.”
He said it appears that the transfers were never effected in the deeds office.
“The university is actively engaging with Tshwane to find a resolution to the current situation.”
He said the dumping had been a problem for some time but escalated during the extended strike that affected Tshwane service delivery in 2023.
The metro and Tuks have not reached a practical and implementable resolution regarding the illegal dumping sites.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said ongoing discussions on a suitable intervention are progressing well but no resolution has been reached yet, due to the complexity of the matter and the nature of the site in question.
“Both parties are hopeful that a resolution can be reached soon and that the illegal dumping can be stopped and the area cleaned up.”
Last year, residents wanted to petition the metro to erect barriers along the road and called for better by-law enforcement.
Mashigo said the city is confident that the engagements with UP and other stakeholders are progressively drawing towards an amicable decision on a practical and easily implementable solution, with various options being explored.
“The city in addition to its ongoing efforts to enforce its by-laws, continues to intensify efforts to educate the general public on prudent waste management practices.
Furthermore, the metro is also making great strides in finalising its integrated waste management plan, which aims among others, to provide the city with alternative waste treatment for problematic waste streams, such as building rubble.
There is a process in place to procure and provide signage for problematic illegal dumping hotspots around the city, as an added measure to deter dumping actions.”
Mashigo said, however, it should be noted that the city can only erect such signage on council-owned land.
“Once an effective intervention or solution has been decided upon, such will be implemented.”
He said one of the potential solutions being explored is the erection of barriers around the affected areas, to prevent unauthorised access.
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