Residents of Ward 116 have been urged by the ward councillor and concerned residents to play their part in combating dumping in their neighbourhood.
The ward consists of Beacon Valley (Oval North Street and Trampoline Street), the Mitchell’s Plain CBD (Mitchell’s Plain Industrial Area and Promenade Mall), Bongani (Denell site), Ikwezi Park (west of Swartklip Road and Govan Mbeki Road, south of the R300 and east of the railway line, Lente Road and the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre, north of Highlands Street) and Montrose Park (The Farm).
Many residents have been concerned about the dumping happening on the fields in the community.
La’eeqa Witbooi, 22, from Beacon Valley said: “Earlier this week a mattress was dumped on the Muurbal Street park close to where I stay.
“The burning of the mattress affected the kids during their play time on the field and that is a big concern for me.”
She said the City of Cape Town or the community should invest in putting up a sign for people to not dump their dirt anymore.
“If the sign goes up, it would be easier to maintain the park.”
Mareldia Carelse, 23, also from Beacon Valley, said she walks through the park off Muurbal Street every day with her five-month-old baby.
“It has become unhygienic to use the park and for kids to use the space.”
Dumping on any public land is illegal and if found guilty of dumping illegally, you could be fined between R500 and R10 000 and could get a prison sentence of six months to two years.
Vehicles used for dumping can also be impounded and a further R7 500 impoundment release fee is payable to reclaim vehicles.
Michael Pietersen, ward councillor for the area said it was embarrassing how the fields look in the ward. “We have been in contact with the community about the issue.
“In some areas there are signs stating that one cannot dump and misuse the space.
“It amounts up to a R2 000 fine if the fields are misused.”
He said the dumping usually took place at night when nobody was around to account for the dumping.
Ward assistant Norman Adams said several signs put up in the community had been stolen.
Mr Adams said three people from the council had been assigned to clean the area twice a week.
They will then report back to the ward and the City’s offices about the state of the various fields.
Mr Pietersen said: “We have been facing these challenges for a while now.
“We need to remember that Mitchell’s Plain was built during the apartheid era and was built specifically to that time and because of that we face challenges such as dumping still today and it remains an ongoing issue.”
Mr Pietersen encouraged the community to work together and to take responsibility for their community.
He assured residents he would take action in partnership with key role-players such as community members, councillors, NGOs, stakeholders, SAPS and the neighbourhood watch to work together to combat dumping and address many more pressing issues affecting the community.
You can contact Mr Adams, the ward assistant, at 021 400 3323 if you have any complaints or concerns in the ward to report to them.
