AfriForum audited 135 landfill sites nationwide this year as part of its national project to measure the standard of landfill sites in South Africa.
None of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga that were audited adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), a landfill site must adhere to specific standards.
This is how the best landfill sites compare to the worst:
| Name of branch/landfill site | Municipality/ Responsible authority | Licence number | Compliance score (%) | ||||||
| Mpumalanga: | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||
| Amersfoort | Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM | – | – | – | – | 6 | – | – | |
| Arnot transfer station | Steve Tswete LM | – | – | – | – | – | 75 | – | |
| Barberton | Mbombela LM | B33/2/10960/P131 | – | – | – | – | – | 46 | |
| Belfast | Emakhazeni LM | 12/9/11/P95 | – | 8 | 10 | 14 | 41 | 48 | |
| Bethal | Govan Mbeki LM | 17/4/WL/MP/307/13/02 | 72 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 5 | |
| Breyten | Msukaligwa LM | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | – | |
| Carolina | Albert Luthuli LM | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Delmas | Victor Khanye LM | B33/2/220/9/P218 | 48 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 30 | |
| Dullstroom | Emakhazeni LM | – | – | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Ermelo | Msukaligwa LM | 16/2/7/C112/D1/Z1/P427 | 84 | 52 | 42 | 18 | 2 | 18 | |
| Evander | Govan Mbeki LM | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Hendrina transfer station | Steve Tshwete LM | – | – | – | – | 67 | 55 | – | |
| Kinross | Govan Mbeki LM | 17/4/WL/MP/307/15/01 | – | – | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |
| Leandra | Govan Mbeki LM | – | – | – | – | 20 | 6 | 6 | |
| Lydenburg | Thaba Chweu LM | – | 56 | 12 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 10 | |
| Machadodorp | Emakhazeni LM | – | 16 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 6 | |
| Morgenzon | Lekwa LM | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Middelburg | Steve Tshwete LM | 16/2/7/B10/D33/Z1/P412 | – | – | 36 | 95 | 28 | 58 | |
| Middelburg (Dennesig transfer station) | Steve Tshwete LM | – | – | – | 44 | 94 | 86 | – | |
| Middelburg transfer station | Steve Tshwete LM | – | – | – | – | 100 | 92 | – | |
| Nelspruit | Mbombela LM | 12/9/11/P5 | – | – | 64 | 80 | 74 | – | |
| Piet Retief | Mkhondo LM | – | 40 | 68 | 57 | 39 | 12 | 48 | |
| Secunda | Govan Mbeki LM | 17/4/WL/MP/307/13/01 | 76 | 42 | 19 | 24 | 10 | ||
| Standerton | Lekwa LM | 17/4/A18/MP305/10/01 | 24 | 32 | 26 | 14 | 0 | 18 | |
| Volksrust | Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM | – | — | – | – | 16 | 2 | 16 | |
| Witbank | Emalahleni LM | B33/2/210/32/P136 | 68 | 64 | 47 | 30 | 60 | 34 | |
| White River transfer station | Mbombela LM | – | – | – | 74 | 80 | 80 | – | |
The audit consists of a list of 33 questions that measure the minimum requirements for landfill sites in South Africa and includes factors such as access control, fires, medical waste, fencing, rehabilitation etc. A landfill site must obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation.
According to Bronwen Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Highveld, most of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga are in a shameful state, which can be attributed mainly to a lack of municipality accountability.
Pretorius says the most common problems AfriForum identified during the audit were amongst others the absence of waste management licences, and the total mismanagement of sites.
AfriForum branches will also exercise pressure on authorities in their areas to establish waste monitoring committees to improve the waste management process. These committees will consist of municipalities and interested parties wanting to improve waste management in a particular town. AfriForum will arrange a meeting with Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environmental Affairs, to identify sites that need to be restored and reach the necessary standards.
The audit report will also be submitted to the Green Scorpions for further investigation and action against non-compliant municipalities. AfriForum will continuously monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites are improved to reach the required standards.
- Read the report here.
