ILLEGAL dumping of refuse in our metro is a festering issue and responsibility for this unacceptable situation must be placed four square at the door of the ruling party, who contributed to the worsening problem by cutting the service delivery budget to fund the Afcon Cup bills. It is a fact that R930000 was cut from public health to fund Afcon.
Among other affected wards, worst hit are 32, 29, 28 and 27, where refuse collection is sporadic, at best. Desperate residents are reduced to dumping in open spaces where the health risk simply worsens, as the piles of rubbish breed bacteria, attract rodents and flies, which then prey on the neighbouring homes.
On January 16, a waste management meeting of northern areas councillors robustly tackled this issue with public health officials, who cited budget constraints which kept their hands tied.
"Illegal dumping" noticeboards were ordered and not yet delivered, and overgrown areas are not cleared, bringing rodents and snakes.
Overgrown areas is a metro-wide problem, with areas such as Ward 8 (92 overgrown areas) and Ward 40 suffering similar neglect.
Public health should take control of this situation, provide more transfer stations and ensure weekly refuse removal for all areas.
DA councillor Tyrone Adams, Nelson Mandela Municipality
Letters
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