JOHN HARVEYjohnh@dispatch.co.za
Residents of Fairlands Home for the Aged in Cambridge West are not being spared the illegal dumping scourge sweeping across East London.
While efforts have been made by Buffalo City Metro to clear a site that occurs at the back of the facility in Jennings Road, a huge illegal dump has formed about 100m further on.
Dumping occurs despite the prevalence of signs warning against it.
Fairlands is located directly across the road which runs from Amalinda to Cambridge West, and there are fears the elderly residents are being exposed to health risks.
“This has been going on for two or three years already. We’ve reported it to both the ANC and DA ward councillors, but nothing ever happens,” said Fairlands estate manager Mark Wattrus.
“When the wind blows, the rubbish comes onto our property. The rubbish also gets burnt and the smoke comes over, which obviously is not good for our residents’ health. They often complain about it.”
Dumping is also taking place at other sites along Jennings Road, particularly the parts that run through Morningside.
Morningside resident Dee Schröpfer described the situation as a “disgrace”.
“The dumping is happening every day. One day, I actually approached one man and asked him why he was dumping, and he told me to f-off,” Schröpfer said.
“The whole area has deteriorated. Dumping is also happening on Morningside Road. It’s terrible because as the rubbish piles up, more flies come into your house.”
Schröpfer said she has even come across dead dogs being dumped alongside Jennings Road.
Ward 16 ANC councillor Mzukisi Relu conceded that Jennings Road was “not a good sight for anyone to see” because of the daily dumping. “We’ve tried to stop truck after truck unloading trash but seemingly we are fighting a losing battle. I have made arrangement with community services acting head of department for a clean-up campaign next week, but the question remains, what are the plans in place to stop those who knowingly break the law?
“The BCMM clean-up campaigns include a lot of education aimed at community members, so that this is not a ward councillor’s responsibility alone to monitor and prevent, but the community’s as well.”
Ward 4 DA councillor Tessa Botha said even though the dumping did not technically fall within her ward, it had an impact on her constituents. “It’s the residents of ward 4 who have to look at that unsightly scene because the populated areas of ward 16 occur some way away. The dumps are horrible with animal carcasses and air pollution.
“The municipality knows that it is a hotspot for dumping and it is given priority because there is an old-age home in the area. They do clear it when they can, but there are shortages of vehicles and manpower.”
Parts of East London’s inner city are regularly targeted for illegal dumping. The corner of Dyer Street in Arcadia is increasingly coming under the microscope as rubbish accumulates, posing health risks to residents working in the area.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the city had embarked on a “massive clean-up campaign” which started weeks ago. “The executive mayor [Xola Pakati] has been leading teams to clean up the city and reclaim our streets one at a time. Already, work is under way to clear up illegal dumpsites on the Black Road, NEX, Settlersway, Qumza Highway in Mdantsane and N2 near King William’s Town and we have targeted areas like Southernwood, Duncan Village and Mdantsane.
“We have also identified various sites across the city centre and East London surrounding areas and will be dealing with the areas pointed out in the media query [Cambridge West, Morningside].”
He said a task team was dealing with waste management, and on receipt of the Dispatch’s mail, a team had been dispatched to Dyer Street to “deal with the situation”...