Ward 80 councillor Fortune Mampuru, together with various stakeholders, wants to turn illegal dumping sites in Baghdad informal settlement, near Freedom Park in Pretoria Central, into vegetable gardens to benefit the community.
“Our community faces the problem of the high unemployment rate, poverty and hunger while some parts of the land are used as illegal dumping sites instead of being turned into a solution to the current economic problems in our community,” Mampuru said.
He said that illegal dumping sites were bad for, among others, the environment and people’s health.
“Illegal dumping sites create a fertile ground for various pests that are a threat to humans to thrive and, therefore, are not welcomed in our community.
“To get rid of them and ensure that the initiative is successful as well as sustainable, we need the community to come together, clean up illegal dumping sites in the area and turn them into vegetable gardens,” he said.
“I strongly believe that this approach will be of benefit to our community as it will ease the pain of poverty and hunger while on the other hand creating opportunities for community members to venture into agricultural business,” Mampuru said.
He said the aim is to turn the problem faced by the community into an opportunity that benefits the residents.
“We are on a mission of turning lemon into lemonade – which simply means turning our frustration into joy.”
He added that the City had not approved the planting of vegetables on identified illegal dumping spots yet because the programme was still in the planning phase.
“Everything about the clean-up and gardens programme will have to be done in accordance with the law.”
Stakeholders taking part in the projects include, among others, the Tshwane Metro and Inkululeko Community Centre (ICC).
“More details about the plan will be revealed shortly as we still have to meet.”
According to ICC programme coordinator Pastor Joel Mayephu, the non-profit organisation was pleased to be part of the clean-up drive.
“Converting illegal dumping sites into vegetable gardens will discourage people from embarking into illegal dumping and provide the community an opportunity to eat healthy food and run small agricultural businesses,” Pastor Mayephu said.
He said residents will be planting vegetables such as spinach, cabbages, beetroot and potatoes.
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