Volunteers filled 250 garbage bags with rubbish they pulled from the Bokmakierie canal on Sunday.
The 120 members of ASEZ WAO, an international volunteer group, took part in the two-hour clean-up along with their families and colleagues. They also cleared the waterway of tree branches and discarded car bumpers.
“I am happy to have contributed to this meaningful activity and the blocked waterway is now able to flow easily, and most likely, reduce the dampness on the side of the road,” said one of the volunteers, Lonwabo Madlakana, 33.
Another volunteer, Wanda Lola, 24, said they were happy to be doing something to help save the earth and “spread awareness about environmental problems and solutions”.
Athlone ward councillor Rashid Adams said plastics, household garbage, ceiling boards, sanitary towels and car parts were just some of the things dumped in the canal.
“Dumping is a mindset. People have been doing it for so long that it has become a norm. Some people refuse to take their bins out on refuse day and rather take their bin down to the river to dump. A number of appeals for skips had been requested for the area by residents, but the City is not in favour as a number of dead animal carcasses had been previously found in there,” he said.
Mayoral committee member for urban waste management Grant Twigg said the City’s by-law enforcement unit had issued 205 fines, amounting to R548 700, for illegal dumping during May and June, and 112 people had been fined a total of R56 000 for littering over the same period. That was up from 23 fines, amounting to R57 500, for both illegal dumping and littering for March and April, he said.
“The recent increase is linked to the deployment of 36 new auxiliary officers, ensuring the unit can monitor illegal dumping hot spots and blitz areas more effectively. It is very encouraging to see recent efforts to increase capacity of our by-law enforcement unit bear fruit. I hope this encourages more residents to make the effort to report illegal dumping and keep our new officers busy.”
To report dumping, call the 24-hour toll-free number 0800 110077. Those convicted of illegal dumping could be fined up to R5 000, have their vehicle impounded, or face a two-year prison sentence. For every report that leads to a fine and conviction, the City is offering a reward from R1 000 up to R5 000, depending on the offence. Call 0860 103 089 to notify the City about dumping that needs to be cleared.
