The AfriForum branches in the Mpumalanga Lowveld recently audited eight landfill sites as part of the civil rights organisation’s landfill site audit campaign. Altogether 17 landfill sites across the whole of Mpumalanga were visited.
With this project, AfriForum branches evaluate landfill sites to ascertain if municipalities are up to standard in this regard. According to applicable legislation and regulations, among other the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act No 59 of 2008) a landfill site must comply with certain requirements, including factors such as access control, illegal dumping, fire regulations, fencing and rehabilitation. A landfill site should obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation. However, none of the landfill sites in the Mpumalanga Lowveld passed the audit.
“It is shocking to see that municipal managements fail in their duties to such an extent. Many sites do not even comply with basic requirements. Some have no fencing or lack machinery to compact waste, for example. On certain sites, we noticed people who were sifting through garbage for recycling purposes. This is very unsafe as they were not wearing protective clothing,” says Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Mpumalanga.
Audit results for Lowveld landfill sites:
| Mpumalanga (Lowveld) | ||
| Belfast | Emakhazeni LM | 10% |
| Dullstroom | Emakhazeni LM | 2% |
| Lydenburg | Thaba Chweu LM | 35% |
| Machadodorp | Emakhazeni LM | 6% |
| Middelburg | Steve Twete LM | 36% |
| Middelburg (transfer station) | Steve Twete LM | 44% |
| Nelspruit | Mbombela LM | 64% |
| Witrivier (transfer station) | Mbombela LM | 74% |
After releasing the results, AfriForum will meet with municipal managements to discuss possible solutions.
Become involved today by sending an SMS with “Oudit” to 45350 (R1).