Residents of Ivy Street in Lenasia South say they have reached breaking point as ongoing littering around Lenasia South Secondary School (LSS) continues unchecked despite years of complaints.
Preggie Moodley (69), who has lived on Ivy Street for the past 40 years, says the situation has worsened significantly over the last four and a half years. He and his neighbours have been forced to endure what they describe as a daily “nightmare” on their door steps.
The problem is largely driven by scholar transport vehicles that park near the school.
Speaking to GLOBE POST, Moodley said: “The reason this problem is happening is because of the taxi’s that park here. Learners from South View, Willowmead and LSS make a mess.”
Residents have reported the issue to Ward 120 councillor Puseletso Nzimande, as well as to Lenasia South SAPS and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). However, they claim no meaningful action has been taken. “The councillor said they were going to remove these people, but nothing was done. Even the JMPD said they would relocate them to Wimbledon, but that has not happened,” he added.
Moodley stated that the principal indicated that the matter falls outside the school’s responsibility: “The principal said it’s not his problem.”
In the absence of intervention, they resorted to paying workers out of their own pockets to clean the area. “Sometimes we pay people to clean because we don’t like living in untidy conditions. It’s like a pigsty,” Moodley added.
They have also proposed relocating scholar transport vehicles to an open space along Wimbledon Road as a potential solution.
“The only way to solve it is to move the taxis out of here. They can park elsewhere, but not here,” Moodley said.
Residents are now calling on the City of Johannesburg to step in urgently, with demands for stricter enforcement against illegal dumping and improved waste management services in the area.
