Living next to dumping

Makgoo Victoria

Victoria Makgoo
Morapaneng Village
Fetakgomo Tubatse Municipality
Limpopo Province
15 June 2024
Living next to dumping
In Morapaneng village, Dithabaneng, and Ditwebeleng, the community is staying next to Donga.
They inhale dirty waste from the donga, they even dump bottles and diapers. The
municipality and even the mining company don’t take illegal dumping seriously because
some kids are playing next to the donga, which is dangerous.
In 2022, a community-based organization has engaged with the municipality and mine about
this matter. They did a cleaning campaign and invited the municipality, Twikenhem, and Marula
mine. Since that day they haven’t done anything or even shown the community that they
will make any change, but even today nothing has happened
Living near mine dumps can have serious health implications for communities. In South
In Africa, where mining of gold, coal, and other resources is a major economic activity, mine
dumps are a significant concern. These dumps consist of crushed, sand-like by-products
called tailing, which contains a complex mixture of metals and dust particles. When it’s windy
and dry, dust exposure can be particularly high for nearby people. As a community, we
are in danger. The humming of the mining dump and dust also caused illness and the
statistics in the community. There are lots of asthma and chest-related problems.
Residents near mine dumps are at risk of developing respiratory problems due
to dust and pollutants exposure. Chronic exposure can lead to conditions like asthma, chronic
bronchitis, and emphysema, Fine particulate matter from mine dumps can enter the
bloodstream and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension. Some of the
mine tailings contain toxic heavy metals that can leach into soil and water. Long-term
exposure to these substances may elevate the risk of cancer.
Living in proximity to mine dumps can cause stress and anxiety due to concerns about health
risks and environmental degradation. The mine dumps can contaminate groundwater and
surface water, affecting drinking water quality and agricultural practices. This is because
there are communities that drink that water from the river and they also water their
vegetable with contaminated water and that water affects their vegetables they don’t grow
very well.
The land around mine dumps becomes unsuitable for agriculture or other purposes,
impacting livelihoods. The efforts to mitigate these effects include dust control measures,
proper waste management, and community education. If you live near a mine dump,
consider seeking medical advice and advocating for better environmental policies in your
area. Illegal dumping laws vary by state, but they generally address scenarios such as:
Dumping Waste on Unlicensed Property dumping waste on public or private property that
isn’t licensed or permitted to receive waste.
Disposing Waste Without a License dumping waste into sewers, waterways, or allowing
others to dump waste on one’s land without proper licensing. Federal Laws: The federal
government has enacted laws like the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to protect
the environment, especially for large volumes of hazardous waste1. Misdemeanor or Felony:

Depending on factors like the type and amount of waste, illegal dumping can be a
misdemeanor or a felony. Hazardous waste or repeat offenses may lead to felony charges.
Remember, proper waste disposal is crucial for public health and environmental well-being!
Mr. Mampa
As I am a businessman, I seek a dumpster so I can dump all my bottles because I dump bottles in the
donga or next to the mountain. This is very dangerous because there are community
members who fetch wood in the bush or even in the mountains. it can be dangerous to
them, we are seeking those bins so we can separate waste and do recycling, and that will
create job opportunities, as there is a lot of unemployment in the community.

We want the municipality to work with Twickenham Mine so they can assist the community with
dumpers and make a schedule on how they are going to collect waste, it will also help those
who are unemployed as we want the waste to be separated.