PHALABORWA — Residents here have raised concerns that well‑used public spaces are deteriorating as informal mechanics and traders occupy parks and paved squares, leaving behind litter and burning refuse, a civic group and eyewitnesses have said.
Community group urges enforcement of by‑laws
Letaba Herald reported that Let’s Change Ba‑Phalaborwa (LCBP), a civic group, has called on the Ba‑Phalaborwa Municipality (BPM) to enforce its own by‑laws, remove informal traders from restricted areas and ensure regular litter collection.
According to the report, LCBP raised concerns about Wildevy Park and the newly paved square outside Hi‑Q on the corner of Palm and Kiaat streets, saying both areas have become impromptu workspaces for informal or so‑called "bush mechanics".
“Oil, car parts, boxes and whatever are simply discarded where the bush mechanics carry out their illegal trade,”
The quote above is attributed to Trevor van Rooyen, who spoke on behalf of LCBP, Letaba Herald reported. He added that traders have been seen burning litter and operating where food is prepared and sold, creating potential health risks for customers.
By‑laws exist but, residents say, are ignored
Letaba Herald summarised relevant municipal provisions: the municipality may, after reasonable notice, suspend trading from an informal trading area or site if continued use is impractical or inconvenient for the municipality or its service providers. The by‑laws also prohibit lighting fires and littering in public trading areas. LCBP says these rules are not being enforced.
| By‑law point | What it allows or prohibits |
|---|---|
| Temporary suspension of trading | Allows suspension if trading is impractical or inconvenient after reasonable notice |
| Prohibition on fires | Prohibits lighting fires in informal trading areas |
| Prohibition on littering | Requires traders and public to refrain from littering |
Van Rooyen told Letaba Herald that despite attempts to escalate the matter to the municipality, the situation remained unchanged until a recent clean‑up operation.
Municipality begins to clear the area
Letaba Herald reported that on Friday, 7 August, BPM posted photographs on its Facebook page showing staff cleaning the area behind Hi‑Q and Wildevy Park. The municipality did not provide a quoted response in the article, but the social‑media post was cited as the source for the clean‑up action.
- Areas affected: Wildevy Park and paved square outside Hi‑Q (Palm and Kiaat streets)
- Problems reported: informal mechanics operating in public spaces, oil and car parts discarded, litter burning, traders selling without permits
- Community request: enforcement of by‑laws and regular litter collection
The report highlights tensions between people operating informally in central public spaces and rate‑paying businesses. Van Rooyen said businesses pay rates and taxes and that others operating publicly should also be regulated, Letaba Herald reported.
Residents who cook or buy food near the affected spots were identified as potentially vulnerable, since the burning of litter and nearby spilt oil could pose health hazards, the civic group said. The article did not supply independent public‑health commentary or figures on enforcement actions taken previously.
For Phalaborwa residents, the issue touches on broader questions of public‑space management, livelihoods and municipal capacity. The municipality’s social‑media update indicates an intention to act, but the civic group has called for sustained enforcement and routine waste collection to prevent recurrence, Letaba Herald reported.
Further follow‑up would require comment from Ba‑Phalaborwa Municipality on planned enforcement steps, permit processes for informal traders and a schedule for ongoing cleaning and waste‑removal services.
