It is evident that Bains Kloof is being used as a dumping site, and that the guilty parties come from as far as Ceres and Worcester to dispose of their rubbish there.
On Sunday, volunteers rallied together to clean up one of these areas in Bains Kloof.
They spent six hours in searing heat, also strapped to safety harnesses, to collect and dispose of 125 refuse bags filled to the brim with rubbish. This took some serious man and woman power in the heat to stay focused, and collect all the plastic, nappies, broken beer bottles, 2-litre plastic bottles and mixed other glass items, but the team successfully completed their mission.
Max Bannister, who organised the clean-up, took the rubbish to the Drakenstein landfill were it was dumped.
“My volunteers and I are all very distressed by the fact that the culprit who did this is a repeat offender and not aware of the consequences of his actions,” he said.
“We are very keen to use what clues we found as to the origin of the waste and lay charges.
“It is an obscene amount of waste to dump in a national conservancy and heritage site.
“While we felt this is indeed a victory we are aware there is a lot more to do.”
Bannister said that there are various other areas in Bains Kloof, which are also being used as dumping sites such as near Tweede Tol were old tyres, bottles and stripped electrical cables are being dumped.
He is asking various parties, such as the Drakenstein municipality and Cape Nature, to insist in these clean-ups.
“We can make a difference as some of these items have been sitting there for years,” Bannister said.
“The only way to protect this wild space and natural wonder is zero tolerance, vigilance and maintenance of the road and its facilities. One bottle left leads to another.”
He added that images and videos will be compiled of the clean-up and bring this situation of illegal dumping to the attention of the public.
“Our water resources are under threat due to this dumping as well. We need all the help we can get and get various parties involved in assisting us to stop this illegal dumping.”
