Looking for solutions for Zamimpilo
This is the third time in this month that the councillor got officials to visit the area.
On November 21, Ward Councillor Basil Douglas took Regional Director Mohau Ntheli, Theresa van der Merwe and other City of Johannesburg officials on a walkabout in the informal settlement of Zamimpilo. This is the third time in this month that the councillor got officials to visit the area.
The first visit in the month was with Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC), Environment and Infrastructure Services; Nico De Jager, the second visit was with The Speaker of Council; Vasco da Gama and the last one was with Ntheli.
According to the Ward councillor, the aim of the walkabout is to show Ntheli the state of the community before they have their one-on-one meeting to discuss issues on the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
The two main issues that were raised was the growth of the camps as it has grown here to the Longdale Service Station and the factories as well as closer to Main Reef road.
The councillor fears that as the camp is prone to fires and being so near to the factories and the petrol station it could cause major damage to property and people’s lives. The second concern was that the Zama-Zama’s (illegal miners) are digging and using explosives near the gas pipelines which could affect the entire community and surrounding areas.
One of Transnet’s employees were present and said that the company will be having an awareness programme for residents from Zamimpilo, the aim for this is to make residents aware of the dangers that come with working so close to the gas pipelines and the effect it will have on the community if the explosives reach it.
The Transnet employee also said that they have closed the area where the Zama Zama’s were working which were a few meters away from the pipelines; however, he stated that the Zama Zama’s will reopen the pit.
From the last time that we were in the area, the councillor confirmed that the pigs which were in the den were removed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) and permanent toilets were installed for the residents at certain points in the camp.
The other concern from the councillor is that the people of Zamimpilo are going to suffer from illnesses due to land pollution as well as stagnant water. The councillor will sit in a meeting with da Gama and Ntheli to discuss a way forward.
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