DIRTY diapers, dirty face masks and used sanitary towels are some of the many items that can be found in front of the gates of residents in Sipres Road in Thomas Gamble, Uitenhage owing to illegal dumping at an open field in the same street.
According to Thelma Warney, each day the wind blows the rubbish from the field across from her house, it is transferred to her front gate and along her boundary wall.
She said when the gate is opened, the rubbish blows into her front yard.
“I am very unhappy because my yard looks like a dumping area. This is unhygienic and is asking for trouble and sicknesses especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Warney.
“Some of the items that I have found are dirty diapers, dirty masks, sanitary towels and all sorts of other rubbish.”
Warney, who has been staying in Sipres Street for four years, said when she first moved to the area, she removed the rubbish from her gate and transferred it back to the field.
“I used to sweep all the rubbish back across the street, but I stopped doing that because I am a pensioner,” said Warney.
To prevent her grandchildren from touching the rubbish when they are playing in the yard, she pays people to remove the rubbish.
“My grandchildren play in the yard and it is unhealthy to have this rubbish lying around. I constantly have to shout at them to get away from the rubbish,” she said.
Warney said many of the residents staying in her street have been complaining about the same problem at their homes.
She said she does not think cleaning the field will solve the issue as people will continue dumping.
Warney does however believe that placing a fence around the field and creating a park for children in the area will prevent illegal dumping.
“A fence around this piece of field will be more appropriate and much appreciated.
“It would be good to turn the field into a playground for our children,” said Warney.
According to ward 48 councillor Tyrone Adams, the illegal dumping at the open field in Sipres Road is a serious issue.
He further said about four weeks ago he reported all areas of illegal dumping in ward 48 to the assistant director of waste management and a truck was dispatched to Sipres Road.
“The officials at my request went on a site visit in the ward and they explained to me that they will first prioritize Doornhoek Street where they are currently busy and Sipres Road is next,” said Adams.
“In the next few days, they will clean up Sipres Road.”
Adams said in the 2016/2017 integrated development plan he requested that the open field be converted into a gym park with fencing.
“My request was accepted and marked as high priority. We are, however, still waiting for it to happen,” he said.
