Residents of Nompumelelo township near East London’s pristine suburb of Beacon Bay are fuming over uncollected rubbish which they claim has been piling up for nearly six months.
With school holidays approaching, residents are concerned their children could fall ill due to the health hazard.
Andrew Tanda was among those who claimed refuse was last collected by Buffalo City Metro (BCM) six months ago.
“We are living in rubbish in this township. We are just not getting help from our municipality. Our councillor is not helping at all. For the past six months the situation has been like this,” said Tanda.
However, Ward 29 councillor Makaya Bopi denied refuse had not been collected in almost half a year, saying it had been three months.
“When we call for help at the metro, they answer and they remove this . It’s been maybe three months of uncollected rubbish, not six months as they claim.”
Bopi alleged that some motorists from neighbouring suburbs dumped rubbish in Nompumelelo.
“We’ve got pictures to show. Some people come and dump in this township, thinking this is a dumpsite.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Saturday gathered in the township and cleaned some of the streets.
EFF’s Songezo Nkungwini said they could not fold their arms while people were drowning in rubbish.
“We have no choice but to address this. We are victims here and children are closing schools.
“They will be playing here with this rubbish while parents are at work,” said Nkungwini.
He said dead dogs were even thrown at the illegal dumpsites.
“Imagine the stench that travels to the nearby homes,” said Nkungwini.
The Daily Dispatch visited the area on Saturday and saw piles of rubbish strewn around the streets and almost blocking motorists on the township’s main street.
Around the township there are more than 10 sites where rubbish is dumped right next to houses.
Resident and businessman Pangani Matumbu said they did not have enough space to trade because of the filth.
“We can’t open any stall here to sell because the municipality takes months to clean our area. We have more dumpsites in every corner of this township,” said Matumbu.
Nosisi Liba, whose house is near one of the illegal dumping sites, said she cannot even cook with her house doors and windows open.
“The stench that comes from this is unbearable. I know residents have no other place to dump their rubbish but when it’s not collected it’s something else.
“The EFF youth who have done this are setting an example,” said Liba.
Yesterday a private company was seen cleaning up.
Bopi said the metro was doing its best to keep the community clean.
“We are working hard to make sure that our township is clean. Let’s not politicise this.
“The dirtiness affects everyone in this community, that we can’t change.
“But the metro is working to clean this area on weekly basis,” said Bopi. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Health hazard as rubbish piles up
With school holidays approaching, residents are concerned their children could fall ill due to the health hazard.
Andrew Tanda was among those who claimed refuse was last collected by Buffalo City Metro (BCM) six months ago.
“We are living in rubbish in this township. We are just not getting help from our municipality. Our councillor is not helping at all. For the past six months the situation has been like this,” said Tanda.
However, Ward 29 councillor Makaya Bopi denied refuse had not been collected in almost half a year, saying it had been three months.
“When we call for help at the metro, they answer and they remove this . It’s been maybe three months of uncollected rubbish, not six months as they claim.”
Bopi alleged that some motorists from neighbouring suburbs dumped rubbish in Nompumelelo.
“We’ve got pictures to show. Some people come and dump in this township, thinking this is a dumpsite.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Saturday gathered in the township and cleaned some of the streets.
EFF’s Songezo Nkungwini said they could not fold their arms while people were drowning in rubbish.
“We have no choice but to address this. We are victims here and children are closing schools.
“They will be playing here with this rubbish while parents are at work,” said Nkungwini.
He said dead dogs were even thrown at the illegal dumpsites.
“Imagine the stench that travels to the nearby homes,” said Nkungwini.
The Daily Dispatch visited the area on Saturday and saw piles of rubbish strewn around the streets and almost blocking motorists on the township’s main street.
Around the township there are more than 10 sites where rubbish is dumped right next to houses.
Resident and businessman Pangani Matumbu said they did not have enough space to trade because of the filth.
“We can’t open any stall here to sell because the municipality takes months to clean our area. We have more dumpsites in every corner of this township,” said Matumbu.
Nosisi Liba, whose house is near one of the illegal dumping sites, said she cannot even cook with her house doors and windows open.
“The stench that comes from this is unbearable. I know residents have no other place to dump their rubbish but when it’s not collected it’s something else.
“The EFF youth who have done this are setting an example,” said Liba.
Yesterday a private company was seen cleaning up.
Bopi said the metro was doing its best to keep the community clean.
“We are working hard to make sure that our township is clean. Let’s not politicise this.
“The dirtiness affects everyone in this community, that we can’t change.
“But the metro is working to clean this area on weekly basis,” said Bopi. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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