Despite being given notice to close down a dump site in Kew, a company continues to operate it.
The site has a mountain of building rubble consisting of rebar and soil. It is about 15m high and 30m long and stretches westwards from the corner of 8th Avenue along Vincent Tshabalala Road.
According to local businessmen and residents, the dumping activities put their lives in constant danger. “The dust coming from the site is unbearable and there are trucks going up and down all the time,” said one businessman who wished to remain anonymous. The situation is not healthy, we need the powers that be to intervene.”
Another neighbouring businessman who also requested anonymity, echoed the same sentiment adding that his employees were hospitalised after falling ill. He said, “They had sinus infections and some of them spent days in hospital. It is unfair that my business has to suffer over such illegal practices that are not of my doing. The site does not fall under construction excavating zoning, so this should not be allowed to take place here.”
The businessmen said the site posed a danger to pedestrians as it was not fenced off, and trucks were driving up and down the road to offload the rubble.
However, Phoenician Earthworks and Demolishing, the company operating the site denied any wrongdoing.
Managing director Joseph Habib said, “We are aware that dust escapes the site, but we constantly water down the site in order to keep dust to
a minimum.”
Habib said his company received rubble from construction sites where they had been appointed as the demolitions contractor.
Upon visiting the site, North Eastern Tribune found groups of men prowling the dump competing feverishly for scrap metal and other objects, oblivious of health dangers from concrete dust, asbestos and other harmful building by-products.
They swore and threatened to beat up our journalist for taking pictures.
City of Joburg’s Nthatisi Modingoane said legal action had been taken. “After several inspections the company was served with final notice to comply or cease operation and remove the rubble within 14 days,” he said. “Failure to comply with the final notice, a section 56 Court Summons with option of admission of guilt will be issued to the company owner. Should the company owner continue even after issuing the summons, the matter will be forwarded to the state prosecutor for further legal action,” he explained.
