Support For Campaign Against Illegal Dumping

Initially, when I started with my campaign against the illegal dumping of rubbish in Nigel which was prevalent, I thought that I was fighting a losing battle and at one point my attitude nearly changed to one of  'if you cannot win them, join them'. I even felt like Don Quixote, fighting windmills!.

But,now it seems that there is some support, and in this regard I want to thank Nigel & Heidelberg Rekord. It seems they are also now giving attention to this sickness. Here is a news item which was published in the Rekord of 25 September 2012:

 

Please, join us in fighting this illegal dumping of rubbish! 

This is our town - let us take back our beautiful environment and nature!

PS: Thanks to our Ward Counselor, Mr. Labuschagne for his involvement!

My First and Last Horseback Ride

Yesterday I decided to try horseback riding, even though I have had no lessons or prior experience. I mounted the horse unassisted and the horse immediately sprang into motion. It galloped along at a steady rhythmic pace, but I began to slip from the saddle. In terror, I reached for the horse's mane, but could not seem to get a firm grip. I tried to throw my arms around the horse's neck, but I slided down the side of the horse anyway. The horse galloped along, seemingly oblivious to its slipping rider. Finally, giving up my frail grip, I leaped away from the horse to try to throw myself to safety. 

Unfortunately, my foot had become entangled in the stirrup and I was now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as my head was struck against the ground repeatedly. As my head was battered against the ground, I was mere moments away from unconsciousness when... the playground manager ran out to shut the horse off.

Caught In The Act: Illegal Dumping of Rubbish in Nigel

This is an email I sent to the Manager of Angelo Superspar in Nigel on 14 September 2012:

'The Manager,

This morning, about 09:15, as I passed the back entrance of Spar (old Heidelberg Road towards Heidelberg) I found one of your employees (Name given as Patrick) busy to dump rubbish of Spar just outside the gate in the grass just next to the road. I confronted him and he indicated that he was dumping the rubbish on instruction of his 'boss', 'Jimmy'. He also confirmed that he is an employee of Spar and I saw him coming through the gate of Spar with one of the municipal waste bins.

Since my arrival here in Nigel in 2010, incidentally the same time Angelo Mall opened, I came aware of the illegal dumping of rubbish on the outskirts of Nigel and it is especially the old Heidelberg Road running from The Mall towards Heidelberg that is being targeted by irresponsible persons to dump their rubbish. With time this tendency of dumping rubbish as we wish, where we wish, became worse and as a ratepayer I just could not keep quiet anymore and I tried to get the two local newspapers involved, but to no avail. Then I started a blog to raise concern and you can follow this link: Article Illegal Dumping

After I published this article, The Record suddenly 'became involved'. However, matters got worse and this morning I took a video of your employee with the rubbish. Follow this link: Caught in the Act

Please, I know he could be making it up that his 'boss Jimmy' instructed him to do it but the matter of the fact it is an employee of Spa is doing this and where will it end? Just go and look outside your gate and further on towards Heidelberg, it is ugly!! What is also a concern is that there was one of your security guards also outside who threw away rubbish and as he went inside, this Patrick passed him with the bin and the guard did not even looked into it - he could just as well been taking stock out!

So, please, stop this illegal dumping, and if you could, try to clean up the mess just outside your gate.

Thanks.

Apologies for not giving my name but I have been victimized once too many!'

On  17 September 2012 I  received the following reply from the Management:

'Good day,

Thank you very much for brining this matter to our attention.

We have investigated this matter and found the person who was dumping waste water into the veld was from a outside cleaning company and did not receive any instructions from as so called Mr. Jimmy.

It was of his own accord and apologized for his actions.  Our company sees this in a very serious matter and will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again.

Our sincere apologies.

Regards

Management'

 I accepted this response in good faith and the matter is closed. 

The lesson here, is that this beautiful town is ours, we must be proud citizens. Not only proud, but good citizens - good citizens do not litter or dump rubbish illegal. And the best of all is, we must show each other on our mistakes and work hand in glove to make this town and environment beautiful!!!!