A local business owner has described the Berlin Roundhill landfill site – the only legal dumpsite in the city – as being in a state of “anarchy” due to criminals and vagrants.Truck owner Helga Schonfeldt, who provides transport services in the East London area, said she regularly made use of the site to assist clients discard garden refuse and building rubble.
Despite paying BCM R135 to use the dump site, Schonfeldt said vagrants surrounded her trucks seconds after entering, with large groups of men insisting on offloading her goods despite her having her own labourers to do the job.
Once done, Schonfeldt said the vagrants then demanded money – and drew knives if no payment was made.
“That place has plunged into complete chaos and I feel the authorities are letting criminals run it as they wish. As soon as you drive in, there are people hanging all over your truck and the way they demand money is unacceptable.
“To offload a two-ton truck they demand R200 payment but I still have to pay my staff as well. It’s ridiculous.”
According to Schonfeldt, three security guards stationed at the site turn a blind eye.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said while it was not practical to expect security to escort people while they offloaded their waste, security guards did patrol the area regularly.
“People and vehicles are also checked at the gates but there are gaps in the fence where opportunists can climb in.”
Meanwhile, Beacon Bay residents began dumping their uncollected household waste at the gates of the suburb’s BCM premises yesterday.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the site at about noon yesterday, about 30 black bags of foul-smelling garbage had been piled on the pavement.
This comes a few days after Gonubie residents dumped a mountain of uncollected waste at the doors of the Gonubie BCM offices on Sunday.
The waste collection crisis has been caused by striking solid waste department workers, who are protesting against a lack of protective clothing.
Anarchy reigns at Berlin dumpsite
Truck owner Helga Schonfeldt, who provides transport services in the East London area, said she regularly made use of the site to assist clients discard garden refuse and building rubble.
Despite paying BCM R135 to use the dump site, Schonfeldt said vagrants surrounded her trucks seconds after entering, with large groups of men insisting on offloading her goods despite her having her own labourers to do the job.
Once done, Schonfeldt said the vagrants then demanded money – and drew knives if no payment was made.
“That place has plunged into complete chaos and I feel the authorities are letting criminals run it as they wish. As soon as you drive in, there are people hanging all over your truck and the way they demand money is unacceptable.
“To offload a two-ton truck they demand R200 payment but I still have to pay my staff as well. It’s ridiculous.”
According to Schonfeldt, three security guards stationed at the site turn a blind eye.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said while it was not practical to expect security to escort people while they offloaded their waste, security guards did patrol the area regularly.
“People and vehicles are also checked at the gates but there are gaps in the fence where opportunists can climb in.”
Meanwhile, Beacon Bay residents began dumping their uncollected household waste at the gates of the suburb’s BCM premises yesterday.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the site at about noon yesterday, about 30 black bags of foul-smelling garbage had been piled on the pavement.
This comes a few days after Gonubie residents dumped a mountain of uncollected waste at the doors of the Gonubie BCM offices on Sunday.
The waste collection crisis has been caused by striking solid waste department workers, who are protesting against a lack of protective clothing.
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