Most Joburg citizens have some direct experience of the scourge of illegal dumping. Across the city, vacant pieces of land, once beautiful parks and even heritage sites are used by dumpers. Catching the culprits is difficult, cleaning up the mess is expensive and the negative effects on health, the environment and heritage preservation are massive.
A few weeks ago I travelled past Oxford Park in Parktown and what I saw made my blood boil. The park contains two blue plaques which are installed on the remains of the entrance gates of the demolished mansion Onder Kopjes. The park used to be a great place to bring locals and tourists for a short visit. The highway above with the forgotten ruins below provide the perfect setting for some great storytelling. Alas the dumpers have ruined this scene and brought multiple hazards to the local community. The act is made even more obscene considering that a church and a school are within walking distance.
The Plaques in the Park in 2012 (The Heritage Portal)
Onder Kopjes Plaque (The Heritage Portal)
[[{"fid":"4160","view_mode":"media_adaptive","fields":{"format":"media_adaptive","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Marienhof Plaque - Heritage Portal - 2012"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"media_adaptive","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Marienhof...
