The Pikitup garden refuse site on the corner of William Nicol and Ballyclare drives has been a thorn in the side of residents’ in recent years, and things seem to be only getting worse.
A quick drive around the premises highlights numerous problems. Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp has been monitoring the situation. “The Pikitup site is in serious disrepair. The boundary walls are collapsing in certain spots. People can literally just walk in here at night and take what they want. Office parks in the area are complaining that their staff are being harassed and are too scared to walk past the site on their way to work.”
Earp added that vagrants have also taken to sleeping around the site and selling goods they have scavenged there on the sidewalks.
A worker at the refuse site who wished to remain anonymous is aware of the problems. “We have very little security here. People can come in anytime they want and take things. Our toilets are also broken.” The worker added that he believes vagrants in the area are responsible for crime and drug trading in the area.
Dr Bruce Irvine-Smith, a veterinarian at Bryanston Veterinary Hospital is frustrated by the inaction of the City in dealing with the site. “The activity of the vagrants outside the site wall on the corner of Ballyclare Drive and Hobart [Road] are a serious problem.”
“Drug dealing is going on there. A few weeks ago at about 10pm two of these vagrants were shot dead. Vagrants sleeping at the base of the outdoor advertising board between the site wall and William Nicol Drive are allegedly all part of the drug syndicate,” he added.
Irvine-Smith added that people using the Gautrain bus and taxis on the corner have been harassed, especially women. “A number of my lady staff members have had this experience. In a high rate-paying suburb, this mess outside the site and the poor condition of the site perimeter wall are an insult to the businesses, office parks and shopping centres around it,” said Irvine-Smith.
The allegation that two vagrants were murdered close to the site could not be confirmed by the police.
Jacky Mashapu, general manager of communication for Pikitup, stated that the area will be cleaned up. “We always strive to ensure that we provide services as per the normal schedule. On the issue of littering, we will dispatch a team to ensure that the place is litter free.” When questioned, there was no response to the various other issues facing the site.
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