EVANDER – Residents in Pietersburg Street and surrounding areas are upset about people drinking and partying at Evander Dam over weekends and leaving the area in a mess.
The public park in Pietersburg Street in Evander has become a party place and is often packed with cars and people who come from other towns to drink at the dam.
Residents said they even heard what sounded like gunshots coming from that area over weekends.
Some residents claim they are scared to drive past that area or to reverse out of their driveways, because of all the drunk people at the dam.
“You must see what it looks like here after they had partied here over a weekend,” said a resident.
“It is just bottles everywhere and there are no ablution facilities, so where do they go to use the toilet?
“You can imagine what else they leave behind if they cannot go to the toilet here.”
Residents have complained to the Govan Mbeki Municipality, as well as Evander Police several times, but to no avail.
A community meeting was held in the beginning of November about the state of Evander.
At this meeting, residents also complained about this issue and a representative of the municipal department responsible for by-laws, said he visits Evander Police Station often on a Friday afternoon and try to convince them to patrol Evander Dam, but he is told they do not have enough vehicles.
Ridge Times asked the communications department at Govan Mbeki Municipality for comment. Mr Lucky Mhlongo, spokesman, said he did ask the relevant department for comment, but is still waiting on their reply.
The Ridge Times also asked Evander Police for comment, but the spokesman was in court and said he would respond as soon as possible.
