Garbage continues to pile up

BURGERSFORT – Locals claim that the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) tops the list as one of the dirtiest municipalities in Limpopo. This comes after yet another illegal dumping site was found in Driekop.

“The worst thing is that it is situated next to the Dilokong Hospital,” said resident Mr Solomon Ndlovu.

The newspaper recently also received numerous complaints about illegal dumping sites in and around villages. Residents of Praktiseer, Longtill, Riba Cross, Moroke and Mabocha villages said they were tired of the bad odour and seeing their children play in filth. The waste included builders’ rubble, disposable nappies, household rubbish to animal remains.

Moroke residents complained of nappies being discarded on the tar roads while Praktiseer people said the rubbish was thrown into the Tubatse River, which they sometimes used as a water source.

Environmental specialist, Mr Collen Mojela, who showed his displeasure with GTM, highlighted that they had complained to the municipality on several occasions but nothing had been done to rectify the situation.

“We cleaned most of the areas, but after a couple of weeks, it began to stink again.”

Mojela said they had requested that a “no-dumping” sign be erected and a large rubbish bin provided but the municipality ignored their pleas.

“People who dump illegally should be fined. The illegal dumping site between Dresden and Alverton villages was recently cleared but is filthy again.

“We tried to help, but we are losing hope.” The paper also visited the site and discovered that it was unfenced and that rubbish lay scattered everywhere. Mr Thabiso Mokoena, spokesman for GTM promised that the municipality would investigate the matter.