Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg.

  • Johannesburg (South Africa)
Date:
[1960]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    91/100 (page 10)
    10- Orlando East and certain low-lying sections of Jabavu which have previously caused considerable nuisance through the constant stagnation of stormwater in the streets, Other items which are involved with sanitation control and which require continuous supervision and attention are briefly referred to hereunders- Unauthqrised Structures. The erection of shacks, fowl houses, storerooms and garages and the closing in of verandahs without authority and without regard for hygienic requirements, Junk in Yards, The accumulation of building materials, old motor vehicles and other types of junk encouraging rodent harbourage and breeding. Animals, Wood and coal traders using horses or mules for drawing their vehicles stable their animals on residential sites in the older schemes where no other stabling facilities are provided. Fly breeding and other nuisances stem from the unsatisfactory methods adopted for manure and urine disposal. The keeping of cows in insanitary conditions and the illicit sale of milk of dubious quality or cleanliness is a source of trouble in Pimviile, The stabling of goats in improvised stables, and the slaughtering of these animals ostensibly for ceremonial and ritual occasions has still continued on a large scale with little or no control, and to the detriment of meat sales by bona fide licensed traders. Most of the townships have a large number of half-starved dogs perpetually raiding and upsetting refuse bins and scavenging in general; many othersare chained up in backyards in a con¬ tinuous state of captivity, Unlicensed Trading, Throughout the townships the unlicensed sale of fruit and other foodstuffs, the hawking of offal and milk usually from uncontrolled sources continues on quite an appreciable scale. Whilst it may be conceded that offal affords a comparatively cheap source of food with a high protein content, its unclean state at the time of sale and the unsatisfactory handling methods could not be condoned. Improvements have been effected by arranging for the suppliers to clean the offal before allowing it to be sold to hawkers; the control and licensing of these traders and the provision of suitable stalls for the display and sale of this commodity are matters being considered. Trading