AfriForum audited all landfill sites in the Tshwane Metro this month as part of the civil rights organisation’s country-wide landfill audit project. The audit forms part of an annual national campaign during which landfill sites in towns where AfriForum has established branches are audited based on 33 questions.
According to applicable legislation and regulations, among which the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No 59 of 2008), a landfill site must adhere to set requirements for access control and regulations on illegal dumping, fencing and rehabilitation, as well as fire regulations. A landfill site must score 80% to pass AfriForum’s audit.
“The Northern Gauteng landfill sites all scored more than 80% and therefor meet the minimum legal requirements. However, a few people live on some of the sites, which poses serious health risks,” says Tiaan Oosthuizen, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Northern Gauteng.
The results are as follows:
| Landfill site | Municipality | Licence number | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
| Bronkhorstspruit | Tshwane Metro | B33/2/220/116 | 64% | 75% | 88% |
| Ga-Rankuwa | Tshwane Metro | 16/2/7/A230/D9/Z3/P489 | – | 83% | 92% |
| Hatherley | Tshwane Metro | B33/2/123/88/P215 | 36% | 80% | 80% |
| Onderstepoort | Tshwane Metro | OP-GPL-00-052 | 52% | 70% | 84% |
| Soshanguve | Tshwane Metro | B33/2/123/101/P43 | – | 83% | 84% |
| Bon Accord | The Waste Group (private) | B33/2/123/154/P191 | – | 98% | 98% |
| Mooiplaats | The Waste Group (private) | 16/2/7/A230/154/21/p311 | 76% | 99% | 98% |
| Interwaste FG Landfill Site | Interwaste Environmental Solutions (private) | GAUT 002/10-11/W0030 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
The results of the country-wide audit will be compiled in a report to be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs.
“We are thankful for the Department’s cooperation and that its Provincial Waste Managers assisted us,” says Chris Boshoff, AfriForum’s Coordinator for Environmental Affairs.
“It is encouraging to see that AfriForum’s pressure has the positive result that landfill sites in the area keep on improving. The landfill sites under Tshwane Metro management performed well, but those under private management performed even better. Common problems that AfriForum identified at these landfill sites include theft and vandalization of fencing,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Northern Gauteng.
After the project, AfriForum will launch an alternative plan for landfill sites in South Africa in cooperation with a waste-to-energy company. Similar projects have proven to be very successful in other countries. AfriForum will monitor the process continuously to ensure that landfill sites that do not adhere to minimum requirements are brought up to standard.
SMS “Vullis” to 45341 (R1) if you want to join AfriForum.