The illegal dumping of waste in the streets and open spaces in eMbalenhle continues, although the executive mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Nhlakanipho Zuma established a cleaning campaign called Ijima Lokuhlwengisa when he took office three years ago.
This campaign aims to fight against illegal dumping in the municipal jurisdiction. A busy road between eMbalenhle and Bracken has now become a waste dump.
It has also turned into an area for recycling and scavengers with bottles and animal carcasses all over the road.
This makes it difficult for motorists to use the road.
Some road users want the municipality to act before it is too late because they believe the road might be closed due to waste dumped there.
“It is difficult to drive on this road at night because of this waste. People dump bottles and other dangerous materials that may damage our cars,” said a motorist.
“When I was driving from Kinross at night last week, I was shocked to see people busy with that waste. My concern is what if they are disguising as the recyclers while they are hijackers?”
Other motorists also told the Ridge Times they were afraid the road might become a hijacking hotspot because of the waste dumped next to it.
The spokesman of Govan Mbeki Municipality posted on their Facebook page that while it remains the municipality’s responsibility to ensure and maintain the general cleanliness of streets and public spaces, they called on communities to work with them to combat illegal dumping.
They also urged the community to use the weekly refuse removal services instead of dumping waste on open spaces as it may lead to waste piling up, causing health hazards and crime.
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