The Heathfield bridge in Roscommon Road has become an eye-sore with rubbish piling up as street people reportedly often sleep under it.
On Wednesday 24 August, City officials met at the site to discuss ways to stop the area from being a dumping ground.
According to Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate, street people made the area their home, which only worsened the litter issue.
“People took advantage of the fact that they could not be moved and made it their home. This led to the accumulation of rubbish as they used the area as a sorting, sleeping, cooking and a facility where they used drugs.
“This matter has been ongoing for several years and was exacerbated during covid.”
He adds that the City has received many complaints from irate residents to address the problem.
“Some people think we are doing nothing and forget that we are dealing with people whose rights have to be respected and secondly that as a City we are governed by policy and legislation in terms of how we need to deal with people and situations.
“For example, the challenge around why people cannot be moved was brought about as the result of a challenge by the Human Rights Commission and a court outcome that the City now has adhered to.”
While the City has had numerous clean-ups it is looking at ways to stop litter from getting into the waterways of Little Princess Vlei.
“We had several clean-up operations where the (street people) were asked to leave, but all this was short lived. The result of the ongoing behaviour is the dumping of litter into the waterway that eventually ends up in the Little Princess Vlei.”
Southgate added that the homeless had been offered assistance from the department of social development but have refused assistance. “Every one of them has been visited by our social workers and offered help, all of which was refused.”
Meanwhile, the City is looking at ways that the entrance under the bridge can be sealed off.
“It was agreed to have another clean-up operation and we requested them to move from the area.
“Secondly, the environmental management team is going to investigate options to see how the entrance points can be sealed off without impacting the water flow in the event of flooding.
“Thirdly, installing litter traps was discussed in order to try and prevent litter from reaching the Little Princess Vlei as the current litter boom at the entrance to Little Princess Vlei was proving to be ineffective.”
