Littering and illegal dumping have become serious problems in Grahamstown. Illegal dumping is rife in most of the city’s townships and open spaces and street corners are used to dump piles of litter, which become the breeding grounds for diseases.
Littering and illegal dumping have become serious problems in Grahamstown. Illegal dumping is rife in most of the city’s townships and open spaces and street corners are used to dump piles of litter, which become the breeding grounds for diseases.
Nomahlubi Ludinga of Tantyi says children are at risk because they play in these dumping sites. “Our children have tuberculosis. The illegal dumping site next to my home should be turned into a park for children to play in,” she said.
Ludinga said people do not care, they just throw their rubbish anywhere. She said she is scared to confront the illegal dumpers because she wants to maintain good relations with them.
Her brother Sydney Ludinga echoed her sentiments. He said when he confronts the dumpers, they say it is the municipality’s land, not his property, so they should clean it up. He says paper and plastic are the worst problems. “When the wind is blowing, plastics and papers gather in my garden,” he said. Dead cats and dogs are also unceremoniously thrown in the containers which are meant for household refuse.
Another Tantyi resident, Ayanda Helesi said the residents should educate each other about this problem. He said the municipality should provide bins on wheels to every household because plastic bags are not enough.
Makana media and communications officer, Thandy Matebese, agreed that this is a problem in Makana. He said people who dump illegally can be prosecuted. He encouraged the public to report such cases to any municipal official so the offenders may be dealt with.
However, he said the residents should play their role in keeping Grahamstown clean. “The municipality can only do so much, the rest is in the hands of the community,” he said. According to Matebese, the municipality does not have plans to provide wheelie bins to the residents.
He urged the residents to throw their rubbish inside the municiapl rubbish bins.
"It would be helpful if ward councillors and street committees could assist in educating and encouraging the public not to dump or litter and utilise the containers correctly," he said.
