Residents living near the smouldering, stinking Stoney Drift dumpsite say it is an environmental and societal disaster that has introduced ill health, crime and drugs into the area.
They said the tip, which was still sending out billows of noxious smoke yesterday after a huge fire engulfed it last week, should be shut down because it was exacerbating respiratory problems and attracting criminal elements.
Former policeman Anthony Gower, 59, was prompted to form the Stoney Drift/ Amalinda Ratepayers and Residents Association, of which he is the chairman, last month in order to give residents “a voice”.
“We feel that we are being ignored as a community,” he said.
“The tip saga is proof of this because we feel we are getting no help from BCM.
“Housebreaking and breaking into cars have increased tenfold and we now have drug dealers and prostitutes as well as izinyoka,” said Gower, who lives two roads above the dump.
“Drug lords have recruited dealers and taken over the tips and youngsters with prison records are living among the shack dwellers.
“Residents have never been consulted about this tip, which is impacting on our health and daily lives.”
Gower said residents were planning to gather early next week to form a blockade at the entrance to the dump in a bid to have it shut down.
“Should this not work we will have to alternative but to declare a dispute.
“When I moved here about 25 years ago it was beautiful here.
“There was a wetland where the dump is now. The ducks would visit once a year, but now dogs and pigs from the dump root through our rubbish.”
Gail van Rooyen, treasurer of the newly-formed ratepayers association, said she locked herself in her home all day and had a security gate mounted at her bedroom door because she was afraid of criminals.
“This was always a working-class area, but now it is sinking lower and lower and we need to lift it up.
“I gave up smoking but I feel like I’m still smoking because of all the smoke here.”
Sharon Wolff, whose Garth Street home is just metres from the entrance to the tip, said her mother and stepfather were at Frere Hospital with respiratory problems caused by the perpetual toxic fumes emanating from the tip.
Crystal Cooke, who lives in a house whose backyard abuts the dump, said her asthmatic mother had been forced to leave her home to get away from the smoke and fumes.
“She is on a nebuliser all the time and so is my son, who was born with a lung problem and gets chest infections from the smoke. This smoke is toxic.”
DA councillor Marion Mackley said the tip was supposed to be a transfer station for garden refuse only but fridges, rubble and household and commercial waste were all being dumped there.
She said the environmental license allowing the municipality to use the site as a transfer station had expired in 2013.
The first meeting of the Stoney Drift/ Amalinda Ratepayers and Residents association takes place at 18 Fenwick Road, Stoney Drift at 2pm on Saturday.
BCM had not responded to queries by print deadline yesterday.
Neighbours plan blockade
They said the tip, which was still sending out billows of noxious smoke yesterday after a huge fire engulfed it last week, should be shut down because it was exacerbating respiratory problems and attracting criminal elements.
Former policeman Anthony Gower, 59, was prompted to form the Stoney Drift/ Amalinda Ratepayers and Residents Association, of which he is the chairman, last month in order to give residents “a voice”.
“We feel that we are being ignored as a community,” he said.
“The tip saga is proof of this because we feel we are getting no help from BCM.
“Housebreaking and breaking into cars have increased tenfold and we now have drug dealers and prostitutes as well as izinyoka,” said Gower, who lives two roads above the dump.
“Drug lords have recruited dealers and taken over the tips and youngsters with prison records are living among the shack dwellers.
“Residents have never been consulted about this tip, which is impacting on our health and daily lives.”
Gower said residents were planning to gather early next week to form a blockade at the entrance to the dump in a bid to have it shut down.
“Should this not work we will have to alternative but to declare a dispute.
“When I moved here about 25 years ago it was beautiful here.
“There was a wetland where the dump is now. The ducks would visit once a year, but now dogs and pigs from the dump root through our rubbish.”
Gail van Rooyen, treasurer of the newly-formed ratepayers association, said she locked herself in her home all day and had a security gate mounted at her bedroom door because she was afraid of criminals.
“This was always a working-class area, but now it is sinking lower and lower and we need to lift it up.
“I gave up smoking but I feel like I’m still smoking because of all the smoke here.”
Sharon Wolff, whose Garth Street home is just metres from the entrance to the tip, said her mother and stepfather were at Frere Hospital with respiratory problems caused by the perpetual toxic fumes emanating from the tip.
Crystal Cooke, who lives in a house whose backyard abuts the dump, said her asthmatic mother had been forced to leave her home to get away from the smoke and fumes.
“She is on a nebuliser all the time and so is my son, who was born with a lung problem and gets chest infections from the smoke. This smoke is toxic.”
DA councillor Marion Mackley said the tip was supposed to be a transfer station for garden refuse only but fridges, rubble and household and commercial waste were all being dumped there.
She said the environmental license allowing the municipality to use the site as a transfer station had expired in 2013.
The first meeting of the Stoney Drift/ Amalinda Ratepayers and Residents association takes place at 18 Fenwick Road, Stoney Drift at 2pm on Saturday.
BCM had not responded to queries by print deadline yesterday.
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