Municipality’s landfill crisis sparks outrage and legal threats
THE STATE of Phokwane Municipality’s garbage dump site has reached a critical level, raising serious environmental and public health concerns.
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has condemned the municipality’s failure to properly maintain the site, citing numerous safety hazards, pollution, and allegations of illegal dumping by municipal authorities.
Hazardous Conditions at the Dump Site
One of the most pressing issues is the lack of fencing and maintenance at the landfill site. As a result, waste is being blown into nearby areas, including residential neighbourhoods in Nkandla.
Even more alarming is the presence of a shack within the dump, where children are reportedly playing among the garbage, exposing them to severe health and safety risks.
Fires at the site, allegedly started by scavengers burning wires to extract metals, have been sending thick, toxic smoke into the surrounding community, affecting residents in Hartswater and Nkandla. Furthermore, strong winds are carrying trash into local water channels, contaminating essential resources and posing a direct threat to public health.
Violence Against Residents at the Dump Site
Residents attempting to dispose of their waste have reported instances of intimidation and violence. According to the FF+, individuals at the site have threatened residents with knives, chased them away, and even stoned vehicles trying to offload garbage.
These incidents have created an atmosphere of fear, preventing the community from using the landfill site safely.
Allegations of Illegal Dumping by the Municipality
In a shocking revelation, the FF+ has accused Phokwane Municipality, in collaboration with the district municipality, of engaging in illegal dumping.
According to the party, municipal officials have been dumping waste behind bushes near food factories and burying confiscated goods from informal traders. When this illegal activity was exposed on November 8, 2024, authorities allegedly removed only surface-level waste while leaving buried waste underground.
FF+ member Rickus Te Baerts has attempted to open a criminal case regarding these violations at the Hartswater SAPS. The party argues that these actions contravene multiple South African environmental and waste management laws, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998), and the National Health Act (No. 61 of 2003).
The FF+ had last year demanded urgent intervention by November 12, 2024, failing which legal action would be pursued against Phokwane Municipality and Frances Baard District Municipality.
The Municipality’s Response
In response to the mounting criticism, the Phokwane Municipality issued a brief statement acknowledging the landfill crisis and outlining its plans to address the issue.
The municipality attributed its failure to fence off the site to budgetary constraints, stating that fencing installation is only scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year.
Additionally, the municipality claimed that vandalism has worsened the situation, with fencing being stolen and waste compaction equipment being destroyed.
Despite these challenges, it assured residents that it is committed to enforcing by-laws and improving security at the site with the help of environmental health practitioners (EHPs).
However, the municipality’s statement failed to address several critical concerns raised by the FF+ and local residents, including the illegal dumping allegations, threats against residents, and ongoing pollution affecting Nkandla.
The DFA posed 12 questions to the Phokwane Municipality regarding these issues but has yet to receive a comprehensive response.
Calls for Urgent Action
The FF+ has made it clear that they will not let the matter rest without accountability. With growing community outrage and increasing health risks, pressure is mounting on Phokwane Municipality to take immediate corrective action.
Residents have also called on provincial and national authorities to intervene before the crisis escalates further.
As the situation unfolds, the community waits to see whether the municipality will take the necessary steps to rectify the dire state of waste management in Phokwane or if legal proceedings will be the next course of action.
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The DFA posed the following 12 questions to Phokwane Municipality:
• Why has the municipality failed to fence off and properly maintain the garbage dump site?
• What steps, if any, are being taken to prevent garbage from spreading to surrounding areas?
• How does the municipality plan to address the safety concerns regarding children playing at the dump site?
• What measures are in place to prevent fires at the site, and how does the municipality respond when fires break out?
• How does the municipality respond to claims that it has been involved in illegal dumping behind bushes near food factories, especially when reported photo evidence is available?
• Why were confiscated goods from informal traders reportedly buried instead of disposed of properly?
• Will there be any accountability for municipal officials or contractors involved in this illegal activity?
• What is being done to prevent garbage from contaminating local water channels?
• How does the municipality plan to protect Nkandla residents from the ongoing waste pollution?
• What is the municipality’s response to reports that residents trying to dump garbage at the municipal site are being threatened and attacked?
• Have there been any official complaints or police reports regarding these incidents?
• What steps are being taken to ensure that residents can safely dispose of their waste without fear of violence?