Residents of Coline Williams Street in Samora Machel are raising concerns about illegal dumping in their area, accusing some neighbours and people from nearby streets of discarding rubbish and building rubble in their community.

They have called on the City to urgently clean the area and impose strict penalties on those responsible.

Simnikiwe Tolbaat described the situation as unbearable, saying the street has become a dumping ground.

Illegal dumping in Samora Machel blocks roads and endangers health

“This is beyond our control. We need the City to intervene. People are dumping waste in broad daylight. After renovating their houses, they bring the rubble here. The worst part is that they dump it in the middle of the road, forcing motorists to use alternative routes. The rubble must be removed for people to pass,” she said.

Tolbaat added that the rubbish has been piling up for nearly a month. The mother of three described the living conditions as appalling and warned that residents, especially children, are at risk of contracting diseases.

“We have children playing outside in this rubble. If it’s not illegal dumping, it’s a burst drain. Nothing is improving here. Our councillor is trying to address the issues, but residents are part of the problem. We need to change our mindset and respect one another,” she said.

Calls for action to stop illegal dumping in Samora Machel

Ward 33 councillor Lungisa Somdaka acknowledged that illegal dumping remains a major challenge in Samora Machel. He noted that City rubbish trucks collect waste every Thursday but criticised residents and contractors who dispose of building rubble irresponsibly.

“Illegal dumping is a widespread problem in Samora. People renovating their homes dump rubble anywhere. In some cases, subcontractors working in affluent areas bring waste back and dump it here,” Somdaka said.

He added that he is making every effort to ensure the area is cleaned regularly.