Land earmarked for Laerskool Elarduspark sports field has been hijacked and turned into an illegal waste sorting site by waste pickers.
This has caused a public outcry.
The land lies behind the Pretoria east “ghost” mall adjacent to the closed-down Garstkloof landfill site, and is owned by the metro.
The number of waste sorters continues to swell by the week, with the illegal recycling activity posing not only a threat to residents’ safety and security but also to the environment.
The Garstkloof landfill site was decommissioned in 2013 after it reached its maximum capacity, and in 2017 heaps of compost started smouldering, emitting a plume of smoke that blanketed the neighbouring suburbs.
The site was also labelled a “crime den” as thieves terrorising the community allegedly used it as a hiding place.
Lyttelton Sector 4 Community Policing Subforum (LS4 CPSF) spokesperson Shawn Fouche said the plan was originally to turn the land into sports fields for the school.
“The last time LS4 CPF did a walk-through at the site, there were about 50 people living on the land,” Fouche said.
Fouche said the fence around the property has almost been completely destroyed.
“There was recently even a young child living on the grounds.”
According to Fouche, the plastic pickers use the land to sort their waste then they leave what they don’t want there.
“The waste that is lying around creates a serious health risk for all residents in the vicinity. It is illegal to be sorting waste [there], the property is not zoned to run a business.”
She said illegal sorting also creates health hazards, attracts rodents and is a fire hazard to the area.
“The unwanted plastic and waste are burnt creating toxic fumes which impact residents’ health. Fires for cooking and warmth are made and have caused a number of fires, which spread threatening the Garstkloof landfill site as well as the nature reserve.”
Fouche said carcasses and snares have been found on the land.
“With the nature reserve being so close, this is a serious problem.”
She said with the increased development in the area, schools have had to build more classrooms and therefore have an urgent need for sports fields.
“The land would be the perfect space for the schools to perhaps join hands and develop it into sports grounds for all. This would allow more children to take part in outdoor activity and create a healthy community.”
Fouche said the land is not suitable for habitation as there is no water or ablutions.
“The grounds should be cleaned and turned into the sports grounds they were intended for to ensure the youth have somewhere to play sport.”
LS4 CPSF believes that the development of the property into sports grounds will also allow the Garstkloof landfill site to be secured by a fence and this will assist in securing the landfill site as well.
“Currently, it is believed that criminals are using these properties as escape routes and to hide stolen property,” she said.
Bernard Folscher of Bull Security confirmed that they have found stolen property hidden there.
Waste picker Ernest Skhosana said he has been doing this since 2004.
“I am not a criminal. I just sort waste then sell it to put bread on the table.”
Skhosana said should the municipality or the landowner want them to move, he would as he respects the law.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said the land was leased by the school.
The department confirmed that it advised the school to secure the land with a fence to avoid it being used by intruders.
“GDE can confirm that the field belongs to the Tshwane Municipality and a lease agreement of R99 per annum was entered into around 2003,” said departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Mabona said the school intended to use the land as a sports field, however, the maintenance thereof was outrageously expensive since the field still needs serious groundwork.
“Accordingly, the school was advised to develop an affordable mechanism to ensure that the field is well-fenced and protected against intruders,” said Mabona.
The metro confirmed it has a lease agreement with the school.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said though the lease agreement was concluded on January 1, the property is still under the management of the lessee (Laerskool Elarduspark).
Mashigo said the city will issue a 30-day contravention notice to the lessee as a result of the illegal occupation by squatters on the leased property.
He said failure to comply with the notice would leave the city with no option but to terminate the lease agreement and take over the property’s management.
The city is giving the school an ultimatum to sort out its affairs and ensure the land is secured or it will reclaim the land.
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