By Doreen Mokgolo
Rats, foul smells and flies torment residents living near illegal dumping sites in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, but those who empty their bins at the sites say they have no option but to dump illegally.
Illegal dumping sites have increased in many townships across the metro recently, as service providers who used to regularly collect rubbish have stopped working because they have not been paid.
Out of desperation, residents have been emptying their bins in open spaces, and the big signs erected by the metro are not stopping them.
Residents have since vandalised one of the “No dumping” signs by obscuring the word “No”.
Resident Japhter Madiba, who lives close to a dumping site, said the illegal dumping had become a headache for his family.
“The rats have damaged the wiring of my car which has cost me an arm and a leg to replace. We are now forced to keep our doors closed to keep them and the foul smell out of the house,” he said.
Madiba said attempting to clean up the dump site is pointless. Within a few days, the same space is covered in rubbish.
“We have tried stopping people from dumping but that only makes matters worse as they come back in the middle of the night to empty their bins,” he said.
“We need the metro to give out fines to punish those who break the law.”
Resident Dudu Mkhwanazi said they have reached a point of hopelessness as the only people who seem to care about the illegal dumping sites are those who live nearby and are affected by it.
“These dump sites are a health hazard. Everything is dumped here, including dead animals,” she said.
The City of Ekurhuleni encouraged residents to stop dumping rubbish at illegal dumping sites and promised to address the situation.
Pictured above: Illegal dumping site.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
