AfriForum is helping to stop illegal dumping in Springs
The need for reliable service delivery in Springs compelled this AfriForum branch to hold discussions with the Ekurhuleni Local Municipality about important issues affecting the community. Among other things, the Springs branch insisted that the municipality take concrete steps to curb the illegal dumping of garbage. The illegal dumping stems from the closure of the area’s only landfill.
AfriForum met with the municipality in April and highlighted that numerous streetlights are out of order, several parks and fields are poorly maintained and neglected, and that the closure of the Rietfontein landfill has had a serious effect on the well-being of the environment. The landfill has been closed since May last year due to operational issues, forcing residents to dispose of their garbage on the outskirts of Springs. This while other residents dumped their garbage on sidewalks. At one stage the rubbish had piled up to such an extent that it negatively affected businesses in the area.
After the Springs branch repeatedly demanded feedback on the reopening of the landfill, the municipality announced that the Rietfontein landfill would finally be reopened. The Rietfontein landfill is already officially open to the public.
In the same meeting, the branch handed over a list of streets with broken streetlights to the municipality to prioritize. The municipality undertook to repair these streetlights as soon as possible and already began to replace broken light bulbs. The municipality further said that it has also started to tame parks and fields.
“When all community members, including the local government, work together to improve an area, a better future is automatically built for everyone. The recent meeting with the municipality is proof that there is a common will to improve the East Rand and ensure the well-being of the communities,” says Jurie Ferreira, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the East Rand.
The Springs branch calls on residents to get involved in community structures such as those offered by AfriForum. Visit www.wordlid.co.za to join this AfriForum branch.
