SHARPEVILLE. – The issue of mushrooming illegal dumping sites in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has once again pushed residents to take a stand.
This is after a group of residents from Vuka confronted a group of recyclers who have erected tents and structures next to the Vuka Cemetery in Sharpeville.
The community stated their shock at the fact that people were just dumping their garbage at a resting place for the dead, with total disregard and disrespect for the fact that a cemetery should be a respected place.
The community then took it upon themselves to conform the alleged culprits who are the ones that invite people with trucks to come and dump their garbage by the cemetery so that they can be the first ones to look through the garbage and get recyclable material.
Speaking during the meeting, concerned resident and community leader Mahase Mofokeng said that the illegal dumping site posed a danger to the community living next to the cemetery.
“Some of the residents living next to the cemetery have to pass through these tents and the growing dumping site to gain access to transportation. The other problem is the pollution that is caused by the constant burning of garbage here.
“Our cemetery is filled with garbage and that is just total disregard and disrespect of the dead. When we were growing up, a cemetery used to be a place that was respected, this is shocking.”
The community said they would take steps to remove the squatters as they had been previously removed and came back again.
“We have previously conducted clean-up campaigns but you always come back here. You are the ones that are calling people to come and dump here illegally.”
In response, the squatters said that they would try to help the community by cleaning up.
In July, MMC for Waste, Jonas Radebe conducted oversites at various illegal dumping sites in Emfuleni.
Addressing the delegation, Radebe said that he is aware of worrying recycling operations led by waste pickers at illegal dumping sites across Emfuleni, particularly outside Boitshepi Landfill Site and Sonland Park transfer station.
“Following these visits, the municipality is set to be able to effectively plan around tackling waste management challenges in the area through the help of community leaders and the local business community,” he said.
“While efforts to keep Emfuleni clean are underway, I would like to warn residents and businesses to stop illegal dumping, this is bad for our environment. Going forward, heavy fines are going to be issued to transgressors by our Super By-Law department,” Radebe concluded.
