Amid growing health concerns over bags of refuse piling up around Johannesburg‚ the City says it has intensified efforts to contain these risks.
Mayor Parks Tau said at a media briefing on Friday afternoon that the city’s contingency plans to clear the waste management backlog caused by the unprotected strike by Pikitup workers are “in full swing”.
Tau said that areas in the high risk category were being identified for urgent attention.
“These are the areas that are developing health hazards due to illegal dumping near trading facilities‚ public spaces and recreational facilities. The city has prioritised deployment of extra resources in mainly these densely populated areas that are at the highest risk. These include Ivory Park‚ Diepsloot and Alexandra‚” Tau said.
Gauteng MEC for health Qedani Mahlangu asked residents to heed the call to assist with clean-ups and to make use of designated garden sites and landfills to help reduce health risks. “The increase in food and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases are some of the threats that exist‚” Mahlangu said. “Children foraging into the rubbish could also contract these through hand contacts with mucus and phlegm.
The MEC’s call comes over increasing concerns about rats being attracted to the mounting rubbish piles. Professor Lucille Blumberg‚ chief executive of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases‚ said there was no cause for public alarm: all that was needed was for the waste collection and management services to be restored.
* The city has established a joint operations centre to identify and prioritise hotspots for urgent attention. The centre is also responsible for co-ordinating security and tactical response to vulnerable areas. It also manages queries through a new 24/7 hotline: 011 286 6009‚ which can also be used to call for a waste pick-up truck or request cleaning tools and protective gear.
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