Illegal Dumping Creates Severe Public Risks

Xoli Zulu

For the past eight months, residents of Riverside Section in Mhluzi have had to live next to an illegal dumping site filled with broken glass, plastic, and potentially toxic waste. Dumping occurs after midnight to evade detection. The stench is so overwhelming that it permeates homes and contaminates a nearby stream, jeopardizing the lives of both residents and livestock.  

Gogo Catherine Mokoena, 106, reports that she can no longer sit outside due to the smell, and the stream has become dirty and hazardous. A worker who passes the site daily to reach the industrial area states that no one is happy with the environmental degradation. Children play nearby, and elderly residents breathe polluted air every day. Although no major incidents have occurred yet, the danger is escalating.  

The root of the problem lies in the absence of skip bins, infrequent waste collection, and a complete lack of law enforcement or fencing at dumping hotspots. We are calling on Steve Tshwete Municipality to install three skip bins with weekly collection, to fence off the dumping site, erect “No Dumping” signs, increase patrols between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., and conduct a health campaign in collaboration with the Department of Health.  

Residents will begin to report vehicle registrations and take photos for bylaw enforcement officers. The municipality must act within 14 days to secure the area, impose fines, and provide legal disposal points at the municipal landfill.