A SMOULDERING fire at an alleged illegal dumpsite in Ridgeview Gardens has been burning for more than three weeks, leaving nearby residents and businesses battling smoke and foul odours.

The fire has prompted the eThekwini Municipality to call on the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN EDTEA) to investigate the site along Umkhumbaan Drive.

Also Read: Umkhumbaan dumpsite identified as source of ‘toxic smell’

Community leader and Ridgeview Gardens Residents’ Association spokesperson Philasande Made said the smoke and foul odour from the site is unbearable.

“The smoke is affecting us daily,” said Made.

“The fire department has been called onto the site several occasions to extinguish the fire but realised that the problem was much deeper than surface level.”

He said they were informed that an excavator was needed to dig deep underneath the rubble to get to the reigniting pockets.

“The whole community is affected by what is going on at this site. For some reason it burns more when it rains and the smell is worse.”

This was confirmed by neighbouring fast food business owner Mokhotso Tseane, who reported seeing a decline in customers dining in.

“We have an open area where our customer sit and eat their food but this has not been happening over the past three weeks,” said Tseane.

“Nobody wants to sit and inhale that foul odour while eating their food. We do not even know if the smoke is toxic or hazardous to our health, so I do not blame the customers for not wanting to sit down and eat at Morena’s when there is a lingering stench.”

Made said this is a longstanding problem that recently resurfaced. He said the illegal dumping at the site has worsened over the years without action from the relevant authorities.

Civic bodies and environmentalists join forces

According to the Ridgeview Gardens Residents’ Association and the Manor Gardens Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, who have joined forces with Earthlife Africa Durban and groundWork Friends of the Earth SA, air pollution is one of many concerns they have raised with the municipality.

In a joint statement, the organisations said that following the 2022 floods, material from the site, including mud and debris from a slope failure, collapsed onto the road below the dumping area. The resulting debris blocked the road and the entrance to one of the neighbouring properties.

Earthlife Africa Durban waste campaigner Bryan Ashe said the site belongs to the municipality and that a logistics company is reportedly responsible for managing access. “The presence of a weighbridge raises further concerns that commercial waste-handling and dumping activities are taking place,” said Ashe.

He called on the eThekwini Municipality and the relevant provincial and national environmental authorities to urgently act.

“The dumping area is unlined and contains a mixture of waste, including builders’ rubble, discarded paint, bark and wood waste reportedly originating from a sawmill. The site is not authorised to operate as a waste disposal facility, raising serious questions about how these activities have been allowed to continue. Municipal land must not become an illegal dumping ground.”

Site ownership disputed

However, according to eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila, the site does not belong to the City. He said, “An investigation established that the affected site is privately owned and does not belong to the municipality.”

The owner of the logistics company who wished to remain annonymous said he partly owns the land, with the other portion belonging to the City.

“I am aware of the illegal dumping at the site and have measures to prevent it further happening.”

Barriers have been placed at the entrance of the site along Umkhumbaan Drive.

“The other side is not fenced and is being accessed by the illegal dumpers and copper recyclers who are responsible for starting the fires but that is on the municipal side of the site.”

Mzila said the matter has been referred to the relevant authorities.

“This includes the Environmental Health and the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), for further assessment and appropriate action.”

EDTEA had yet to comment at the time of publishing.

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