Continuous illegal dumping creates eyesore

It has come to the attention of the Tribune that the Chris de Villiers Street roadside, as well as the adjacent fields on both sides, are strewn with literal mounds of refuse, discarded building materials and a considerable amount of fast food containers, indicating that surrounding residents and contractors conduct regular illegal dumping activities in this area. The issue has been reported to the call centre on numerous occasions, with no response from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM).

Upon enquiry in 2019, MLM issued the following response: “Illegal dumping in Msukaligwa is the problem, where community members deliberately degrade our environment through illegal dumping activities, especially rubble or building and demolition waste. Instead of using the landfill sites, community members opt for our public open spaces. To remedy the problem, the community awareness program is being rolled out to all community members. The law enforcement team from Gert Sibande is in partnership with Msukaligwa Local Municipality to deal with law breakers.” Alas, as we near the end of 2020, little effort has been put in to deal with residents and construction companies who illegally dump refuse and building material in Chris de Villiers Street.

The warning from MLM has been laughed off, and the refuse dumping has increased exponentially. In a sad state of affairs, it is also clear that rehabilitation or removal of the current, or previous refuse and rubble has been implemented. Illegal dumping of refuse and other materials is a growing issue within Ermelo, as well as the surrounding areas, with residents paying no heed to the municipal by-laws, which remain unenforced.