"It's Insane": Gauteng Yard’s Towering Bottle Pile Sparks Concern and Compassion
- A security officer filmed a Gauteng yard buried under a towering mountain of plastic bottles and household waste
- The footage, captured in a residential alleyway, showed containers stacked so high they spilled over brick walls
- South Africans were left stunned, with many urging someone to connect the elderly homeowner with a recycling company
- Briefly News reached out to Dube Neighbourhood Watch (DNW) to find out what is happening at the house in Soweto
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Source: Facebook
A video of a Gauteng yard stacked floor-to-ceiling with plastic bottles and household waste has left South Africans speechless online.
The footage, shared on Facebook on 6 October 2026, was filmed by Dube Neighbourhood Watch. As people in reflective vests walk through a narrow residential alleyway, the camera captures an almost unbelievable sight: an enormous collection of plastic containers and bottles piled so high they tower over brick walls and spill into the surrounding yard.
The visit revealed that the person who'd been collecting the items was an elderly man, whom the neighbourhood watch were searching for but did not find that day.
Dube Neighbourhood Watch speaks on the matter
Briefly News reached out to Dube Neighbourhood Watch (DNW) and spoke to chairperson Ntsoaki Phali to find out what is happening at a house in Makabeni Street, Orlando West, Soweto, and how the organisation is assisting.
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Phali said the property belongs to elderly resident Mr Mandla Mabaso and has over time accumulated substantial quantities of recyclable plastic materials, raising environmental health and sanitation concerns.
On complaints from neighbours, Phali said residents have reported damage linked to rodents, but cautioned against blaming Mr Mabaso without proof. She said:
"Regrettably, neighbouring residents have reported damage to their sofas and ceilings caused by rodents. However, it has not been established whether these rodents originated from Mr Mabaso's property, and it would be unfair to attribute responsibility without an environmental health assessment."
On interventions, Phali said DNW has approached PETCO, which referred them to Westworld Recycling to explore the collection of recyclable materials.
"We have also requested intervention from the Department of Social Development to assess Mr Mabaso's welfare needs, the City of Johannesburg Environmental Health Department regarding rodent control, and Pikitup for appropriate municipal assistance."
"These interventions are being pursued with the aim of finding a sustainable and dignified solution."
Phali said the case highlights the urgent need for municipalities to make suitable, serviced land available within wards for organised recycling activities. She noted:
"Informal recyclers perform an invaluable environmental service by recovering recyclable materials, reducing waste destined for landfills and contributing to a cleaner environment."
"Rather than treating recyclers as a nuisance, we should recognise their contribution and create opportunities for them to operate safely and sustainably."
She said this requires designated, appropriately zoned recycling and storage spaces within communities, mentorship, skills development and business training, support with equipment, protective clothing and safe storage facilities, partnerships with recycling companies, municipalities and producer responsibility organisations, and economic empowerment and opportunities for recyclers to formalise and grow their businesses.
Phali emphasised that support for recycling must be balanced with community wellbeing.
"Our position is that recycling should be supported, but not at the expense of public health, residential safety or human dignity."
View the Facebook video below:
Mzansi reacts to the towering pile
South Africans flooded the comments on the page with a mix of humour, concern, and genuine compassion:
Kim Vilakazi wrote:
"Call recycling company to collect what they need and give mkhulu his money. 😥"
Zandile Ndlovu said:
"Sizani umkhulu [Help grandfather] call recycle company to take and squash the plastic and give umkhulu the money, he can buy food for years for himself."
Tlalepule Moloi added:
"Imagine having a neighbour like this."
Pearl Pearl warned:
"The amount of rats that must be there, it's insane 😳"
Cebo Nhlakanipho Luvuno offered a different view:
"Just leave the old man alone, he knows what he's doing 💰"
One commenter, Alphus Kg Mudau, summed up the general mood, suggesting someone step in to link the homeowner with a recycling operation rather than judge from the sidelines.
More Briefly News stories on housing
- An unusually narrow, two-storey house in Mfuleni, Cape Town, went viral on TikTok, with its outdoor stairs and elevated porch sparking debate among viewers online.
- Two South African property flippers completed their viral 60-day renovation challenge, transforming a rundown home into a modern, AI-inspired property.
- Six Boston Media House students raised R6 500 and collected 209 cans of food for Hearts of Hope, a Wendywood home for 52 orphaned children, through a two-month campaign.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
