Cape Town - Illegal dumping has caused a stink in Ottery, with a number of residents accusing Freedom Park informal settlement residents of emptying their rubbish bins in front of the Sierra Park Apartment Complex last week.
Freedom Park informal settlement resident, Jonathan Hendricks, however, said residents were frustrated that their rubbish bins were not collected for months.
“We were staying in the old Freedom Park squatter camp, so they said they are going to build us houses, and they have put us in temporary structures not very far from where we used to live.
“At the time we were staying at the old place, every Wednesday council would come and collect our bins.
“But since we moved to this new place in July last year, they never came to empty our bins and it’s now been almost six months.
“So again this Wednesday we put out our bins, the council comes and we ask the council why they don’t take our bins.
They say no they did not get an order to do so. “People who were standing waiting for their bins to be taken, then took their bins and went in front of Sierra Park complex and dropped all their rubbish in front of the gate.
“Then an hour later the truck came back. They now empty the remaining bins in our area.
“We don’t know if they are going to come again next week to take our bins, or if we will have to do the same thing again to get our voices heard,” said Hendricks.
Sub Council 18 chairperson Kevin Southgate, alleged residents of Freedom Park failed to bring their bins for collection on Wednesday.
“According to Solid Waste the residents were told to bring their bins out to a collection point, which is normally done. For some reason or the other, they did not bring their bins out so hence their bins were not collected.
“They then took it upon themselves to go and dump their rubbish at the complex which is close to their informal settlement.
“The officials have spoken to one of the community leaders and they have come to an agreement that they will ensure that on a Wednesday when there is collection that they will bring all the bins to a central point where it will then be collected,” he said.
The City on Sunday said it would need to investigate the allegations further. “Residents are encouraged to please report stolen or damaged bins to the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089 or email wastewise@capetown. gov.za or log a service request on the City of Cape Town website www.capetown.gov.za to apply for a replacement bin.”
Meanwhile, a petition has been launched by several residents of Ottery calling for the Woodlands Road Canal Gap to be fenced off due to ongoing crime.
Ward 66 councillor William Akim called for all crimes to be reported to authorities.
“If there is any muggings or robberies taking place, then those must be reported to the Lansdowne police station,” said Akim.
Cape Times