Business owners furious over rubbish next to premises

Business owners operating from an industrial site in Zone 6, Seshego are up in arms with community members who dump their waste in the proximity of their offices and are pleading with the Polokwane Municipality to take action that will prevent the situation from continuing.
According to the complainants residents are illegally dumping all sorts of rubbish, even dead animals, on the streets adjacent to their offices and the adjoining residential area.
A businessperson operating from the area, Jerry Phaleng stated that community members dump heaps of rubbish everywhere and don’t adhere to the municipal by-laws. “There is an open space next to our offices and everyone just dumps papers, used diapers, human waste and dead animals and lots more. These things are a health hazard and businesses are suffering. They are losing clients because they are seen to be operating from a filthy and a stinky environment. What is painful and sad is that we are paying municipal rates, including waste removal, but the municipality doesn’t want to help us. We came together as businesspersons operating in this area to share our concerns with the municipality but our efforts were in vain,” Phaleng said.
Polokwane Municipality spokes­person Matshidiso Mo­thapo said they aware of the waste in the area but urged community members needed to take a stand against any form of illegal dumping and mobilise their communities against such practices. “It is unfortunate that communities start illegal dumping sites and later complain about the municipality. Any illegal dumping in the municipality is started by the community itself. The municipality provides waste removal services in all areas of Seshego on a weekly basis and the residents are aware of the collection days in their area,” Mothapo said.
He further stated that illegal dumping affect the environment and the nearby communities in a very bad way that results in pollution and disease.
Many of the community members called on the municipality to put on signs for illegal dumping and harsh punishment for the perpetrators.
Mothapo said they have plenty of dumping sign posts in most of the areas but the signs alone are not enough to fight against environmental pollution. “The municipality can plant a sign tomorrow, but that does not mean the end of the problem. Taking care of the environment cannot be the responsibility of government, but a collective effort by the community and government,” remarked Mothapo.

Story & photos: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com