Over the years Paarl Post has received complaints from not only business owners, but also the public regarding the state of Watt Street in the Dal Josaphat area.
Watt Street is home to a recycling business, but the recyclers who drop off their recycled material leave the street in a terrible state.
Not only do they leave the street dirty, but they also occupy a part of the road where they stand with their massive trolleys waiting in line to drop off their items.
“That street is a mess to say the least, I have to struggle to get into the street as the recycling is all over the road,” one of the business owners told Paarl Post. “It is even a mission to get into my business as these people park literally everywhere including my entrance and the parking area for my clients. The strange part is there are other recycling businesses in the area and their streets are not like this one.
“I have tried several times to speak to the owner without any success, and I have pleaded with his clients as well and nothing seems to change. This has become a real hazard, even the cars get scratched and we constantly suffer with slow punctures in the tyres because of the mess that is in the street. This has a huge impact on my business as my clients don’t feel safe in this situation and they rather seek other options than to come to my business.”
Paarl Post asked Drakenstein Municipality what the state of play was regarding the above complaint; if the actions of the clients were legal and if the municipality had taken any action to ensure the street was in a proper state for all road users to make use of. Louis Pienaar, Acting Executive Director: Engineering Services at Drakenstein Municipality responded. He said: “Chapter 1 of Drakenstein Municipality’s Integrated Waste Management Bylaw 2020 addresses the duties and obligations of the waste holder.
“Section 4(1)(d) clearly states that the waste holder must take all reasonable measures to manage the waste in a way that does not endanger health or the environment and does not cause any nuisance related to sight, noise or odour. Chapter 6 Section 40(6) of this bylaw addresses the responsibility of the owner of the property to which the public has access, and determines that the owner should provide containers to contain any litter.
“The municipality’s Law Enforcement Unit addresses contraventions of the bylaw and ensures appropriate actions are taken.”
