31 March 2005

By Robert Tlholoe

MOGALE CITY is on a major drive to stop people from dumping waste illegally, with the waste management department embarking on a series of clean ups around the city.

Deputy director of the integrated waste management department, Palesa Mothibeli, has also warned that stringent action would be taken against defaulters.

The department has reviewed and updated the by-laws pertaining to littering and illegal dumping.

"We have channelled a lot of resources into keeping our areas clean," Mothibeli said, adding that the department had realised that many residents did not take the department's call to keep their neighbourhoods clean seriously.

"We were left with no option but to review and implement the by-laws." These revised by-laws would now be strictly enforced, Mothibeli said.

The uncompromising stance taken by the municipality is part of ongoing efforts to meet the criteria of the province's cleanliness campaign "Bontle ke Botho".

Mogale City was a previous winner of in the campaign - which rewards schools, wards and municipalities for their efforts at cleaning up the environment.

"Our programme of cleaning campaigns speaks for itself," Mothibeli said. "We've been involved in a number of clean-up campaigns in-and-around Mogale City."

However, many of the sites that had been cleared were once again being used as illegal dumping sites, she added.

One of the previously cleaned sites, at the corner of Kagiso Avenue and Utlhanong Streets near the Kagiso Shopping Mall, is littered with a rainbow of rubbish and the stench is all pervading.

According to 'One-One Majadibodu', a resident of Hillsview, Kagiso, the smell from dumping area prevented him from opening his doors and windows.

"I hope our municipality can come up with laws that will jail these people, who are not considerate of other residents."

Majadibodu blames the litter on people from outside the area, and certain businesses.

Mothibeli said her department would leave no stone unturned to deal with the litterers. "We cannot afford to clean the sites, and then when you go pass that area the next day it is different to how it was left the day before."

Mogale City wins first prize in the Bontle Ke Botho cleanliness campaign