Mamelodi Ward Councillors went on a clean-up campaign in ward 28 Mamelodi East. The ward councillors were joined by City of Tshwane municipal workers on Tuesday morning.
Amongst the councillors who get their hands dirty were ward 86 Kholofelo Kgopotso, ward 6 Donsi Madonsela, ward 23 Mashao, ward 15 Collen Marishane, ward 28 Joyce Seelane.
The clean-up campaign started at the Eerstefabrieke train station in ward 28 where an illegal dumping site was cleared.
“We have come to this illegal dumping site at the Eerstefabrieke train station as it is one of the notorious illegal dumping sites because it is an inconvenience for people who want to go and catch the train at the station and its foul smell is unbearable,” explained Seelane.
“We are not going to clean-up only this illegal dumping site but all the illegal dumping sites in all the wards of Mamelodi will be cleaned up, from Ward 6 up until Ward 97,” said a determined Seelane.
She expressed satisfaction that all Mamelodi Ward Councillors came to join hands in the clean-up campaign.
“I would like to assure the community that they will see us hard at work wearing our blue T-shirts which have grey reflectors as we clean up all illegal dumping sites,” she said.
“I would like to advise the community that if they dump rubbish wherever they dim fit, they are the ones who will be subjected to health hazards and it is not like we as Councillors enjoy cleaning up illegal dumping sites, they are smelly and are a health hazard to us,” stressed the Councillor.
“We are asking residents to wait for waste removal trucks to come to their areas on designated days because illegal dumping sites obviously make their residential area look ugly,” she said.
“What hurts me the most is that people come from other areas like Section D4 driving cars for the purpose of dumping rubbish at the Eerstefabrieke train station because they have noticed that people living near the dumping site are careless and don’t care about their own hygiene,” lamented Seelane.
She advised those that have cut trees to not dump those cut branches at the dumping site but dig up holes in their own yards and bury the branches therein because the said tree branches will produce manure for them in the long run.
“Those who have had parties must simply ask for plastic bags from Councillors and then throw all the unwanted leftovers of the party therein, and alternatively they may ask the municipality to bring a truck which will take away all the rubbish that they want to get rid of,” she said.
Seelane warned that those found dumping rubbish illegally would now be fined an amount of R3000 as opposed to R300 previously.
She said this increase is meant to serve as a deterrent to those who dump rubbish at illegal dumping sites.
“Illegal dumping creates unnecessary expenses for the municipality because the funds that are used to clear illegal dumping sites should actually be used to fix things like storm water drainages and also assist in other service delivery matters,” enthused Seelane.
“Those caught engaged in illegal dumping will be forced to reveal their home addresses and the fine for their crime will be added to their municipal accounts,” warned Councillor Seelane.