GEORGE NEWS - For the last month, a local hiker has been visiting a specific fishing spot at the Garden Route Dam, to the right of Eden, every Monday.

To her dismay, what she hoped would be a once-off case of littering, has worsened into what could be a drug hotspot.

"I was at the fishing spot again. It's getting worse," she said on Monday morning, 24 March, shortly after her visit there that day.

She admits to not being an expert on drugs, but from some items she found on the ground, she is convinced that this is fast becoming a place frequented by drug abusers.

 "I spoke to a security guard the other day and she says it happens every weekend. 

They are also not supposed to take the fish, as it is catch-and-release, but they do. The security guard says they tell them so, but they don't listen."

A media enquiry about the issue was sent to George Municipality, that noted the concerns regarding litter left by fishermen at the dam. 

"Two security guards are deployed at the dam, one on duty during the week and one after hours and on weekends," said municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards.

"However, their primary role is to ensure general safety and compliance, not to monitor littering."

She said the bins at the dam are cleared weekly, and illegally dumped litter found and/or reported is cleared immediately. "The municipality will review the need for additional bins but urges visitors to take their waste away with them."

Edwards further stated that fishing is only allowed with a permit applied for at the municipal law enforcement office. These permits include strict conditions prohibiting littering.

"The municipal permit is issued with a permissible activity, for example, catch and release, swimming or rowing, at no cost for a period of one year, on proviso a Cape Nature permit is shown. 

"Permit holders as well as non-permit holders caught violating (any) of the conditions and/or permissible activities will have their permits confiscated and be fined accordingly," says Edwards.

Unfortunately, it is common knowledge that such perpetrators have little regard for bins, permits or municipal by-laws. A firm hand and urgent intervention will be needed to nip this issue in the bud.

A spokesperson for CapeNature, Luke Folbe, said it is not the management authority for the Garden Route Dam and its surrounds and, therefore, does not manage access and use of the property. 

Folbe did say, however, that CapeNature does not object to keeping caught alien and invasive fish species such as carp and bass for consumption.

• Report illegal dumping to the Community Services Directorate on 044 802 2900 (for site clearance), and for law enforcement assistance, call 044 801 6350 or email sprins@george.gov.za, Monday to Friday 07:45 – 16:30.

Some litter left behind by people with a total disregard for nature.Broken items are simply left behind.Your camping chair broke? Just leave it here.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’