GEORGE NEWS - Constant illegal dumping is a massive challenge in our city, and areas strewn with litter in George's biggest township are known as "the roses of Thembalethu".
The open spaces and hygiene of Thembalethu are compromised by the non-stop illegal dumping in many of its zones.
Illegal dumping has been talked about, written about, highlighted and tackled in practice by official entities and some private people, to no avail.
The filthy, stinking roses of Thembalethu and many other areas seem to spread like weeds.
Education
Illegal dumping poses great harm to the residents and the environment. Children play in these ugly, smelly sites and are often injured by broken glass and sharp, rusty metal objects, while animals that are roaming the street for food, open the rubbish bags and eat the rotten food.
Many community members have not only talked about the problem, but also undertake cleanup drives themselves.
It made no difference to the problem.
"The public is fully aware of the dangers of illegal dumping, and aware that it is illegal," said municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose.
This was borne out by Bonga Lungisa, a resident of Zone 3. He said a polluted environment promotes and spreads disease. "Litter also reduces the air quality as rotten food and chemical smells permeate the air."
Judging by past articles in George Herald and Idinga, people know the dangers. Crèche owners and mothers have complained about illegal dumpsites, saying the children get sick from playing in or near the rubbish.
It made no difference to the problem.
George Municipality has been running ongoing education campaigns for residents and at school encouraging residents to stop dumping their rubbish.
They spread the message on community radio, via social media and on flyers printed with specific messaging and artwork in English, Afrikaans and Isixhosa. "Major clean-ups have been regularly undertaken this year with our EPWP teams and workers from the Community Worker's Programme. These teams specifically target Thembalethu, where there are illegal dumping hotspots," said Edwards-Klose.
It made no difference to the problem.
Municipality efforts
In addition, the municipality has spent millions cleaning up illegal dump sites in recent years and its efforts are, if anything, increasing.
Commenting on photos of illegal dumping sites at Tyholorha Primary School and near the Roman Catholic Church in Zone 6, Edwards-Klose had the following to say: "George Municipality can confirm that the two illegal dumping sites referred to are in fact cleared on a weekly basis. The one at Tyholorha Primary is cleared on a Monday or Tuesday and the Roma one on Wednesday or Thursday.
"Furthermore our litter pickers pass the route of Tyholorha Primary and remove smaller litter there on a daily basis. Officials from the Cleansing Department inspected the Roma site yesterday (26 July 2021) again..."
This means that all that rubbish was dumped there in only seven days.
It made no difference to the problem.
Litter lies strewn behind Tyholorha Primary School.
More skips please
Residents say more skips are needed to lessen the illegal dumping. Why? There is a rubbish removal system that picks up most people's rubbish at their house every week.
In addition, the municipality has in past months placed many skips at illegal dumping sites.
The idea is that people should at least throw their rubbish into the skips. But no, rubbish is dumped right next to the skips. "[The municipality] will place a skip on the [Roma] site as soon as is possible," said Edwards-Klose this week.
"Two EPWP litter pickers will be stationed there during the week from 07:45 to 16:30, to monitor and direct the public to place their waste inside the skip. "So, why do we still have a dumping problem?
Because everybody says someone else must solve the problem.
We have to do something about it ourselves. Indoda, umfazi, abantwana, ugogo - every one of us.
Says Edwards-Klose, "The public need to take responsibility for the cleanliness of their areas". And Bonga's solution?
"People 'abantu' must throw their rubbish into bins. We are living with very young children 'nanantwana'," he says.
An illegal dump behind Tyholorha Primary School doubles as a grazing site.
The following information appears with just about every article George Herald places about illegal dumping.
1. Please spread the news in your community that dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builder's rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road).
2. If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators and are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement on 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don't need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.
3. If you notice dumped waste, please report for collection on 044 802 2900.
Are you going to do something about it now?
An open space near the Roman Catholic Church in Zone 6, Ramaphosa has become a dumping site.
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