An elderly Bay resident got one of the best gifts on her 80th birthday on Thursday – the clean-up of a potentially hazardous dumping site next to her home that she said had been a nightmare to live with.
Thanks to the swift action by mayoral committee member for Public Health, councillor Thsonono Buyeye, gran Mary Jansen said she can now wake up to a breath of fresh air.
Algoa FM News alerted Councillor Buyeye to Jansen’s ordeal.
The 80-year-old granny who lives in Balfour Heights close to Missionvale said she’d had to live with the ramshackled house turned-dumping-site for years, with complaints to other metro officials allegedly falling on deaf ears.
But responding the problem on Thursday, councillor Buyeye visited the area within hours to conduct an assessment which was promptly followed up by the commencement of clean-up work on Friday.
“We want to appeal to the residents of this community to stop this crime and to treat mama better than this,” said Buyeye.
“It is disheartening to see an elderly person being forced to endure this treatment.
“As the Municipality we collect waste in this area on Thursdays and Fridays, as per the schedule for the area.
“There is absolutely no reason why people should dump waste illegal, even worse next to someone’s home.”
Granny Jansen said she was overjoyed by the metro’s quick response.
“It such a good coincidence that today I am celebrating my 80th birthday and I get granted a wish I have had for years with no assistance.
“I had long stopped using the front door because the waste was blocking my doorway.
When it is windy and raining, I experience the worst living conditions as all this pollution comes inside my house,” said Jansen.
