Residents in Emerald Str continue to share the brunt of poor service delivery, having constant electricity cut-offs due to ailing electricity cables and now facing illegal dumping in the neighborhood.
The Laudium Sun has received numerous complaints from residents in the area about a vacant property on Emerald Street (corner of 6th Ave), which is causing a health hazard.
Romilla Naidoo, of Emerald Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I live just next to the now illegal dumping site, which is a vacant plot. I do not know who owns the plot, but there was a house there before, which was demolished some time back. At that time, we thought that the owner was immediately going to build a new home, but clearly that was not the case. Now this vacant ground is causing a nuisance in the neighborhood, as people come and dump their rubbish here. These people are sneaky because they dump at night when no one is around, as it is only in the mornings, that we see new loads of rubbish there. What is very disturbing, is the fact that the rubbish being dumped here is not like building rubble or grass, but waste from kitchens, like old and rotten food, which causes a stench and a serious health hazard. The smell is terrible! It is even hard to breathe, let alone cook, as our windows face right onto the vacant property. I hope our new Councillor Naeem Patel can do something about it.”
Naseer Ahmed, also of Emerald Str, said, “I do not know exactly who has the guts to come and dump in our area, but it is unlikely that it someone from far. I believe that it is people who live nearby, who go out at night and dump here. I have my dustbin and I pay for it, so every Friday, the municipality truck comes and empties it. This dumping habit of uncaring residents is so dangerous because not only is it a health hazard, as it invites rats, but there is also a terrible smell and it also attracts vagrants and nyaopes who go around checking the dumping sites and then scout our homes. I hope that the council can do something about this illegal dumping as we can’t live in such an environment which is harming our health too.”
Ahmed Ashfaq, who resides at the corner of 6th Ave and Emerald Str, said, “This dumping is definitely not from us and I do not know who is doing this. It might be others living behind our street or people who come from further areas at night and dump stuff here. This place is really smelling very bad. We can’t even sit in the room and eat dinner properly because of this smell. We are ashamed to invite our relatives, as it is like we are living in the squatter camps now. There is no hygiene. Emerald Street looks like a dump. I don’t understand why the municipality truck that comes every Friday, to empty our dustbins, cannot also just load the dirt that is dumped? Nothing is being done about this illegal dumping place. I hope the new Councillor will look into this matter as our health is at risk. This is not just a health hazard for us and our children, but I am afraid that some kids might go out and play there and then get infected, as people don’t care for others and would even dump strange things there, like old medicines and used syringes. The Council must track the owner of the plot and make him at least close the place off or either develop it, instead of it being left open like this.”
Newly appointed Ward Councillor, Naeem Patel told the Laudium Sun, “I appeal to all residents who have a problem with the municipality, to first report the matter to the council and get a reference number, as this makes my task much easier, when I ask for the matter to be escalated. I will however from my side, I will inform the relevant council department to investigate the complaints of the property being unfenced and about the illegal dumping taking place there.”
