Ward 81 councillor, Irene Rugheimer said they are experiencing continued attempted land invasions on the property behind the substation on Shakespeare Road in Lombardy East, which is threatening development in the area.
She said they had to be stopped with the assistance of the Metro police, the South African Police Services and local security companies.
The councillor said they intend to use the site to develop sporting facilities that will ensure adequate space for local athletes.
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“At the first attempt on 21 May, I was threatened by one of the people trying to put up a shack and had to be escorted by security off the premises for my own safety.
“We met with various entities last week including sports organisations and we will draw up an official proposal to put to the City of Joburg for consideration for this much-needed facility,” said Rugheimer, who denounced people who illegally dump waste on the site saying they also create a hazardous environment in the area.
She said people who are illegally dumping, together with the land invaders, have no consideration for what they are trying to give the community in the form of a sports field.
“We have had Basil Read generously cleaning up and flattening the area so that it could be used for soccer and other sports quotes. But now there’s been a local resident who has taken it upon himself to come and remove the topsoil placed by Basil Read for his own use and this is really unacceptable.”
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Using a TLB and truck, Rugheimer said this unknown resident has removed many cubic meters of topsoil which is very expensive. She said since then, people have been dumping building rubble, waste and other unwanted material that makes the area unsightly.
‘My request is that anyone spotting illegal dumping or any activity taking place should report it to the authorities.”
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