In an effort to tackle illegal dumping, the City of Cape Town held a large-scale clean-up operation in Ocean View on Wednesday 7 June, employing 200 residents.
Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock said Wednesday’s event focused on “illegal dumping hotspots”, while the entire clean-up operation would continue for over two weeks.
“Ocean View is a very beautiful place and today is about getting it clean, getting all of the dumping out of the way to try and implement a culture of not dumping and to report those who do.
“Today, we have different departments involved, such as solid waste, environment, bylaw enforcement and we are employing people.
“We have employed 200 people for this job, partly to alleviate some of the poverty because people need jobs.”
Liell-Cock added keeping the community clean was also part of a safety programme.
“Part of our safety programme is cleaning and greening. We are going to clean and plant trees. If we can get on top of this illegal dumping it would make a huge difference to improve the community’s standard of living and quality of life. It will also reduce costs for the City.
“The South African National Parks (SANParks) is working with us. They have a municipal litter picking-up programme and because the South Peninsula is huge, people can dump anywhere.
“The team has been working for five days already. So you will see black bags all over Ocean View today.”
Gershwin Jackson, an unemployed resident of Ocean View, said the clean-up project would put food on the table, but 10 days were not enough.
“If they can address the unemployment issues, then Ocean View can change. If they don’t employ our youth, then our future is dead.
“If your belly is full, then your mindset will change and that is what they don’t want to do because they want to keep us living like this.”
He added that there were plenty open spaces in Ocean View that could be used to farm and grow vegetables.
“You can expect every month or two that a body would be found in a field, but the spaces can be fenced down and we could turn it into a farm and employ people. That would mean less hunger in Ocean View.”
Miche Jantjies, another resident, said at the end of the two-week contract, it would be back to square one for the unemployed.
“After this contract, we are going to be unemployed again and have to look for work again, as this is only for 10 days.
“Unemployment is very high in Ocean View, which pushes many young people to join gangs. Most boys who turn to gangs and violence do so because it is the only income they get. It is hard to find a job.”
Fellow resident Ruben Pietersen agreed. He lamented the high unemployment in the community.
“Unemployment here is a big issue because if you don’t know people, then there is no job. It is not nice.”
Shandre Matthews (22), who dropped out of school two years ago, said, as a young person, it was hard to work.
“I am looking for work for two years now. This is the first job I am getting.
“The young people have babies and do drugs because what else is there to do? Nothing.”
