Reopening of newly safeguarded Weltevreden Landfill brings hope
The Weltevreden Landfill site was closed due to safety concerns regarding encroaching illegal mining activities.
After being closed since December, a CoE waste disposal truck tipped the first load of rubbish onto the mountain of waste in the Weltevreden Landfill site when it reopened on January 23.
Violence linked to zama zamas forced the municipality to shut the facility, with waste redirected to alternative sites.
While municipal trucks with small loads, escorted by EMPD, offloaded waste on Friday, the site will only open to the public on January 26.
The targeted operations and reopening are part of a project by city manager Kagiso Lerutla, called Fixing the Frontline, to address service delivery issues across the municipality.
@brakpan_herald The Weltevreden Landfill site in #brakpan was closed recently due to illegal mining activity posing a threat to the staff and clients of the dump. Today, January 23, after operations by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department #empd ensured that the site can safely be used, it was reopened for Ekurhuleni waste disposal services and will be open to the public again starting Monday, January 26. #servicedelivery
Several officials were at the reopening, with Victor Nesengani, the divisional head for waste operations, welcoming those in attendance.
Sipho Makhasana, representing the Khabokedi Waste Management service provider, assured the public that waste services will continue now that the immediate danger has passed.
Phakamile Mbengashe, the caretaker HoD for Waste Management Services, said, “We will ensure we restore service delivery to the city.
“I was here about a week ago. On our first visit, we went over the landfill face (waste heap), and we saw what’s happening with the illegal miners. We broke down some of their structures, but then we planned an operation over there.
ALSO READ: Illegal miners cleared, Weltevreden Landfill Site ready to reopen
“We came a second time and chased them, but they were prepared because they had spotters. They eluded us, but we got rid of their equipment.
“I know that from time to time they return, but what we want to agree on is that the safety of the workers of Khabokedi and the city is the number one priority.
“That’s why we are partially opening. The EMPD is on its way, and we want to make sure they have a presence on this landfill moving forward.”
True to his word, an EMPD vehicle with four members escorted the first truck onto the landfill face to dump the first load.
