Despite recent municipal clean-ups, the illegal dumping of disposable nappies continues along the Hattingspruit/Dannhauser road, raising mounting health concerns.

When the Courier visited the site yesterday afternoon, October 1,  fresh piles of soiled nappies were visible, with some floating in a stream that feeds into Dundee’s water supply. This comes just days after Dannhauser Municipality cleared the area following complaints from residents.

 “Where are all these nappies coming from? Is it a local crèche? Someone knows the source,” said a local farmer who preferred not to be named.

Since the Courier first exposed the issue, residents have reported similar dumping on the southern side of Dundee towards Sibongile, as well as in Glencoe.

A concerned parent, Chantelle Wessels Booysen, told the Courier that the problem is already affecting children’s health. “Many children have suddenly suffered stomach flu, and some have had liver infections – the strangest illnesses. I bet that if you investigate further, you will discover how many kids were hospitalised in the past three weeks, all pointing to dirty water as the cause,” she told the Courier.

Resident Clyde Long added that the issue is long-standing. “E. Coli is on its way. There’s no proper sewer system, and the local dams are taking a strain. Do we even do environmental impact studies to ensure that Dundee’s water isn’t being contaminated?” he asked.

Farzanah Dookie, of the Dannhauser Helping Hands Community Organisation, said she had been in contact with the Dannhauser Municipality. “A commitment was again made to clean up the dumping and erect signs warning against illegal dumping in that area. Plans are also afoot to launch environmental awareness campaigns among the local community in the Hattingspruit area to ensure that such dumping is curtailed.”

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