For two years, an illegal pile of trash outside an elderly Buffalo City Metro resident’s home has been so bad that it drives him out the house by day.
The New Year celebrations saw the pile grow bigger, said Willem Vlotman, 60, who lives in Vergenoeg in East London.
“The smell coming from there is unbearable. I cannot live like this. I cannot enjoy my food.
“I have to always close my doors and windows.”
When a Dispatch reporter visited the area on Friday, Vlotman was passing time near the local post office, which has become his refuge to get away from the constant stench.
“The area was so clean when I moved here from my shack two years ago,” he said.
“But then, after some time, people started dropping rubbish in front of the yard and the next thing I saw was some residents coming to throw their rubbish here.”
Voltman, who lives alone, said he had repeatedly told residents to stop dumping their garbage illegally.
“I have repeatedly told the people not to come and leave their plastic bags here.
“They should wait for the municipal truck to come and fetch the garbage bags.
“It comes here every Thursday and I do not understand why people cannot just abide by the laws,” he said.
He said he had to endure the stench of rotting animal carcasses and other foul waste over the festive season.
“People throw all sorts of things there.
“We had a meeting about this in October and it was agreed that no one would throw any more garbage there but now it seems to be getting worse.
“This place is a mess, even pigs walk here. No one seems to care.”
Voltman said he had tried reporting the matter to the municipality, but nothing got done about it.
“I have reported it twice and they say they will bring the bin but that has not yet happened.
“They must just come and make this place clean and make the people stop what they are doing,” the grandfather said.
Questions sent to BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya and ward councillor Roseline Vitbooi on Friday were still unanswered by Sunday’s print deadline...