Plastic City and the growing health problems.

Written by Lynelle Clark

During the Interview by Maroela Media, a few facts came to light, highlighting the growing problem in Anzac.

Early morning sounds fills the air as people stand up and get ready for the day. Business owners sweep the sidewalk and arrange their products ready to make a sale.

This is a typical scene of any town. The only difference is that this scene plays off in Plastic City. While fires burn and smoke covers the air, I cannot help but have mixed emotions of the “normal” scene that has become a growing menace in the main entrance of our town.

Amid the poverty, neglect and filth, people survive. On the one hand, I admire the tenacity of those who are building something upon the growing heaps of rubbish. On the other hand, they are a worry. So, what will happen to this city?

This is just one of the many questions raised during the interview by Janice du Plessis accompanied by Pieter Cloete, from Maroela Media on 3 November 2023.

What was heartbreaking was the fact that we were just five concerned citizens that pitched up that day, me included. Which emphasised the fact that we sit with many complainers in Brakpan and only a handful of solution solvers.

Some concerns that were raised by the interviewees were:

· Health deterioration.

· Illegal mining.

· Growing number of illegal immigrants.

· The Illegal sale of booze.

· Illegal shops

· Illegal dumping

· The growing number of illegal electric connections

· No health regulations are applied.

· Constant burning of rubbish.

· Constant Acid smell is released from burning.

· Loud music till early morning hours.

· Authorities can’t be reached.

· Unsafe environment

· Loss of income.

Samantha Labuschagne, owner of Medley House, lives in Anzac and has her own health problems. She is concerned about her employees’ health and the decline of her business, a popular venue in Brakpan. Smoke inhalation has become worrisome, and she must use an asthma pump to make it easier just to breathe. The black smoke makes it unlivable, and open windows are not an option. Her Snow-White cats are always filthy.

Even newborns in the area struggle to breathe, pensioners are stuck in their homes because of the unsafe environment and their health problems.

When asked why do they burn the plastic? Drummond Doig, AfriForum Brakpan Vice Chair, replied that it is the only way the squatters can control the influx of rubbish. All rubbish is dumped in Plastic City because of Weltenvreden’s Dumpsite limited intake. What the squatters cannot recycle, they burn to make way for the next wave.

It has become an eyesore within the entrance of Brakpan. The authorities don’t assist with the Illegal elements. Trolleys full of booze are carried to the shebeens and sold without licenses. Tuck shops are rising. No matter how many times they tried to contact the authorities, the resolve is always the same. NO RESPONSE.

People’s life investments have been reduced and nothing is done to safeguard, and many are stuck in a situation that they cannot get out of.

Because of the smoke, it creates problems when the AfriForum task force must go in, making visibility a problem. Many children are run over. “Risks are immense,” says Drummond Doig.

Pieter Celliers, Brakpan’s branch manager for AfriForum, confirms Drummond’s statements. Brakpan is no longer a municipal problem but a national problem which needs to be addressed urgently. He added that the medical profession doesn’t want to get involved or refuse to comment about the many rising health problems. He stated that there are big corporations funding the operational side of the squatter camp. They make money out of this state but do not plough it back into Brakpan.

This affects everything in Brakpan. Even our water resources are becoming problematic because of all the refuge that filters into it, Mr Celliers stated. 

William Douglas, a longstanding citizen, was heading up the Town committee but never received the backing from the citizens to make a significant difference. Since 2009, he has brought it to the authorities’ attention, but nothing has been done. The only excuse he received from the municipality was that there was no budget.

What was clear about all of this is that the powers to be show no interest and that laws did not apply to Plastic City.

So, where do we begin?

I almost want to say it is logical: Ban all plastic products from Brakpan but it will not solve the problem entirely.

But the first step is to lessen the rubbish. When there is no rubbish, Plastic City will have no feeder. Don’t add to the problem, reduce it.

Next time when the packers put your purchases into plastic bags, stop them. Make use of reusable or recycled bags. Minimise rubbish.

The only reason Plastic City exists is because of us. As long as we fuel the rubbish, they will stay.

The next step is to get the municipality involved. They must be held accountabile.