Illegal dumping continues to spread in parts of Middelburg as concerns over refuse collection grow, weeks after service disruptions affected communities across town. Near Nazareth and Extension 24, piles of household refuse, garden waste, construction rubble and plastic bags have accumulated on open land, raising concerns about pollution, public health and the environment.
During a recent site visit, DA mayoral candidate Bosman Grobler and councillor Morgan Bruiners blamed irregular refuse collection and the closure of the area’s waste transfer station for the growing dumping site. According to Bruiners, some communities have allegedly gone as long as four weeks without refuse being collected, leaving residents with few options for disposing of household waste.
“The illegal dumping site continues to grow because refuse is not being collected regularly,” Bruiners said.
He also questioned whether residents should continue paying for refuse removal if the service is not being delivered, “Is it fair for residents to pay for refuse removal if it isn’t done?”
The latest concerns follow weeks of refuse collection disruptions across the municipality after the recent unprotected strike. Although services have resumed in many areas, some residents continue to report missed collections and overflowing bins.
The Middelburg Observer has requested comment from the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality on the reported closure of the waste transfer station, refuse collection in the affected areas, and measures being taken to curb illegal dumping. Residents are praying that the week-long strike, preceded by a months-long go-slow by solid waste workers, has been resolved.
Workers have returned to their posts in ‘good faith’ after negotiations around improving working conditions were settled on a handshake. Municipal Manager Mandla Mnguni, however, has still not signed the gentlemen’s agreement with disgruntled workers.
They want more vehicles to service the entire town, as well as fair overtime compensation for as long as they have to make do with four compactors between 14 teams of refuse collectors. Union leaders criticised the municipality’s decision to hire lawyers to interdict the strike rather than focusing on fixing the waste crisis.
“There is no money to buy trucks, but money for lawyers is readily available. This has been the employer’s attitude in every dispute,” municipal employee representative Kgosi Makwati told the Observer.
