Instead of protecting the area’s heritage sites, the Merafong City Local Municipality is still allowing litterbugs to dump their rubbish at an historical site just outside Fochville.

The veld behind the Gert van Rensburg Stadium was once known for its quiet beauty, where nature lovers, off-road runners, and other enthusiasts could relax.

This area is also of cultural significance, as it contains the ruins of ancient Sotho-Tswana settlements, which date back over 300 years. According to research conducted by archaeologist Mark Steven Anderson in his 2009 doctoral thesis at the University of Cape Town, this region was home to a thriving community that farmed, herded cattle, and accepted refugees during a turbulent period of Southern African history.

For the past few years, however, people have increasingly started to dump their rubbish in this once pristine area. The sides of the gravel road that lead into the veld have also become a major site for dumping building rubble. During only the past few months, heaps of broken cement and bricks have started to increase all along the road, stretching deeper into the veld. Some of the building rubble is dumped only metres away from the remains of historical kraals.

Concerned residents such as Corne van der Merwe and Johan Knell and his wife Drienie, who does metal detecting in the area, have long called on the municipality to erect ‘No Dumping’ signs, fence off the area or enforce waste management bylaws.

Their pleas have, however, fallen on deaf ears.

The Herald again took the issue to the municipality on Monday, but received no feedback by printing time.