Vegetable garden to curb illegal dumping

The illegal dumping happening on Plot 62 at the Princess informal settlement may soon be something of the past.

In September, a public meeting was held between residents, ward councillors, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and the Departments of Housing and Social Development to find a solution for the illegal dumping. During this meeting a few things that needed to be clarified were discussed, and all parties involved promised to revert to the residents with solutions as soon as possible.

Now, a mere two months later, Ward 85’s councillor, Carl Mann, has kept his word and gathered the residents to inform them of the proposed solution. “In our previous meeting we realised we first had to determine which department owned the land on which Plot 62 is situated. The Department of Housing has now confirmed that this land is owned by them and, together with the Department of Social Development, they have decided on a proposed project,” Mann said.

Rodney Mudzuli from the Department of Social Development was very excited to tell the residents gathered at the meeting place about the project they will be launching. “In an effort to not only minimise the illegal dumping, but also to create a self-sustaining community, we will be planting food gardens on Plot 62. We have already started ploughing to prepare the soil,” he said.

The food gardens will be given to the residents from the settlement to sustain, maintain and look after. They will be able to keep some of the vegetables for themselves and be allowed to sell the rest. The money generated from the sales must be put back into the maintenance and upkeep of the gardens. “The purpose of today’s meeting is to identify the people who will qualify for this project and get them to register. Thereafter we will have a separate meeting with them where the plans for the gardens will be discussed,” said Mudzuli.

The residents are very excited about this project and could not wait to put their names forward for registration. Lizzie Mashishi is very willing to get involved and said, “I feel good about this project, as it will be good for unemployed people who walk around and are up to no good. Working in the soil will keep them healthy.”

Mudzuli confirmed that training will be given to the people responsible for the gardens and they will be supplied with seeds, garden tools and all other necessary products. “We will look for someone who can help us with a borehole to water the gardens and a fence will be erected around it,” he said.

Mann closed the meeting by saying, “These gardens will not be a permanent thing, as the Department of Housing will start building in about two years’ time. But, until then, you must make the best of this opportunity.”

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