Environmental Affairs tackles toxic dumpsite, MM does nothing

Department of Environmental Affairs officials paid an emergency visit to the dumpsite, after Vryheid was once again blanketed in toxic smoke last week.

AfriForum’s Andre van der Walt said the mismanagement of the dumpsite, and the recurring smouldering fires that endanger the health of residents, are now being dealt with by the Compliance and Enforcement Section of Environmental Affairs.

At this stage, it appears that the municipality is incapable of defusing the fires that start amid the mounds of unsanitary rubbish collecting at the dumpsite, due to the shortage of water and the lack of equipment.

The local plant hire company that had been called upon to do crisis management at the dumpsite 18 months ago is no longer levelling off the site after AbaQulusi municipality failed to renew its contract with the company months ago.

Portfolio councillor for Community Services, Harry Heyns, said that the local contractor had managed to fix up the dumpsite to an acceptable state within two months of starting work, and had continued to maintain the dumpsite until the municipality stopped paying him for his services.

“I spoken to Mnikathi (acting Municipal Manager and Director of Community Services) a million times about doing something to ensure that the dumpsite is managed properly, but I don’t think she has even been to the dumpsite for a year, even though it falls under her department,” said Cllr Heyns. “That is why it is burning. They don’t have the water to put out the fires. They don’t have the front-end loader to do the work with. They haven’t got any money. The situation at the dumpsite is a result of plain irresponsible mismanagement. Mnikathi is the one who can do something about it and she is doing nothing!”

Also read:Toxic smoke still spewing from the dumpsite.

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