As long as the municipality sugarcoats illegal dumping as a ‘community problem’ while protecting those who are responsible, the scourge will never end.

Three notices were issued to businesses this week, following inspections at the new district hospital close to the Middelburg Mall, where large amounts of trash and construction rubble have been dumped recently.

Notices were issued to the mall itself, a contractor busy with construction at the mall, as well as a well-known Aerorand café.

The businesses were served with notices to go and clean the mess they left behind, or face the cleaning bills, FF+ Councillor Johnathan Haarhoff told the Middelburg Observer.

He said the illegal dumping situation has reached such proportions that it would take weeks to clean up.

If the businesses do not comply, they will face stiff fines.

When they are caught dumping, the municipality can also impound vehicles and equipment used for the illegal dumping.

Haarhoff said he cannot sit by idly and watch the situation deteriorate any further.

Meanwhile, the municipality also issued a public notice accusing businesses around the hospital of illegal dumping.

Haarhoff, however, says that the municipality is too scared to name and shame the culprits, instead opting to blame the broader community for illegal dumping.

The community has, however, hit back hard at the municipality, saying that illegal dumping will continue if the authority does not render proper refuse removal services.

Some residents went as far as to say they would continue to dump their trash on municipal properties, because the municipality is not delivering the services residents pay for.

According to the municipality’s screed, “The municipality is always creating awareness campaigns and educating the public about the dangers it poses to human life. There are recent illegal dumping activities that took place at the veld behind the newly built hospital at the hands of some business entities around the area.

Although the Municipality has a number of waste management strategies and services in place for dealing with all types of waste, however the challenge of illegal dumping still persists. Illegal dumping is one of the biggest challenges that the Municipality is facing and fighting on a daily basis (sic).”

The press release warns: “Dumping waste on public open spaces is an offence. Should a person be found dumping, any or all of the following actions will be taken – Confiscation of the item or tool that is used to commit the offence, Spot fine which will be incorporated into your municipal account and summons to appear in court for contravention of the municipal By-laws. Businesses are warned that criminal charges will be laid against businesses illegally dumping rubbles or waste. The public should take note the businesses can take the rubbles to the Landfill Site at no cost (sic).”

Responses include:
• What do you expect people to do if you don’t collect rubbish, this is the results.
• Same I don’t condemn it. So it will continue when you don’t collect waste Mondays.
• Its wrong I agree, but the municipality needs to collect the rubbish. The municipality hasn’t collected our rubbish.
• Maybe you guys should wake the law enforcement team up. Lately they don’t respond when we report dumping.
• When the municipality workers feel like not going to work you always come up with excuses, then when the rate payers retaliate you complain, why? Illegal activities are caused by lack of service delivery, but you always put the blame on the communities.