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 15 landfill sites in the Northern Cape that were audited adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 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 (%) | |||||
| Northern Cape | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Barkly West | Dikgatlong LM | – | 16 | – | – | – | – | |
| Douglas | Siyancuma LM | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 4 |
| Deben | Gamagara LM | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – |
| Hartswater | Phokwane LM | – | 76 | – | 57 | 14 | 2 | |
| Hopetown | Thembelihle LM | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 10 |
| Jan Kempdorp | Phokwane LM | – | 32 | – | – | 10 | 0 | |
| Kamieskroon | Kamiesberg LM | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8 |
| Kathu | Gamagara LM | B33/2/4441/15/P116 | 56 | 19 | 16 | 28 | 26 | |
| Kimberley | Sol Plaatje LM | 16/2/7/C901/D2/P265 | 48 | 36 | – | – | 82 | 52 |
| Kuruman | Ga-Segonyana LM | B33/2/441/9/P128 | 72 | 56 | 39 | 27 | 10 | 52 |
| Keimoes | Kai !Garib LM | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 |
| Olifantshoek | Gamagara LM | – | – | – | 14 | – | – | – |
| Orania | Orania Dorpsraad | NC/PIX/SIY/ORA/04/2016 | 95 | – | 80 | 66 | ||
| Postmasburg | Tsantsabane LM | – | 56 | 12 | 41 | 20 | ||
| Prieska | Siyathemba LM | 16/2/7/D720/D1/Z1/P479 | – | – | – | – | – | 16 |
| Springbok | Nama Khoi LM | 16/2/7/F300/D9/21/P315 | 8 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Upington | Khara Hais LM | – | 84 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 18 | |
| Warrenton | Magareng LM | – | – | – | 6 | – | – | 14 |
| Williston | Karoo Hoogland LM | – | 8 | – | 10 | 10 | 4 | 22 |
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 Werner Strauss, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Kalahari, most of the landfill sites in the Northern Cape are in a shameful state. This can mainly be attributed to poor management from the municipalities, with either no or poorly-maintained earth-moving equipment to help with the recycling of waste.”
Strauss said the most common problems AfriForum identified during the audit were the absence of waste management licences, and the total mismanagement of sites. “Most landfill sits had no fence or name boards, and unauthorized people live on the 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.