The Tshwane metro has acknowledged security shortcomings at the Hatherley Landfill Site following a series of fires and the presence of illegal waste reclaimers at the site.

This comes after the DA in Tshwane called for urgent intervention at the landfill following another fire reported on May 12, the latest in a string of recurring fires at the facility.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the metro has recorded four fires at the landfill site over the past 12 months.

Mashigo confirmed that the most recent fire was allegedly started by waste reclaimers operating at the site.

“It is alleged that the fires that have occurred at the site were started by waste reclaimers operating there trying to salvage waste,” Mashigo said.

The metro also confirmed that the landfill does not have adequate perimeter fencing, making it vulnerable to unauthorised access.

“The landfill site does not currently have adequate perimeter fencing or a security surveillance system in place. However, security personnel are deployed on site during both day and night shifts to control access for incoming and outgoing vehicles and to safeguard the landfill infrastructure,” he said.

Mashigo said waste reclaimers currently operating at the landfill contribute to reducing the volume of waste entering the site and help preserve valuable landfill airspace.

“The waste reclaimers operating on the site contribute significantly to reducing the volume of waste disposed of at the landfill, thereby preserving the facility’s limited airspace and extending its operational lifespan,” he said.

“Although the reclaimers have not yet been formally registered and integrated into the city’s waste reclamation database, their activities are not regarded as illegal, as they contribute positively towards the city’s waste minimisation objectives.”

Mashigo said it is currently finalising a programme to formally register and integrate reclaimers into its waste management strategy.

Responding to the criticism of firefighting equipment, Mashigo explained that some fires start after operating hours when no equipment operators are available to respond immediately.

“Although equipment is available on site to assist with firefighting, some fires occur at night when the facility is closed and no equipment operators are present to respond immediately. As a result, the fire may only be detected by the morning shift team, by which time it may have spread over a larger area and penetrated deeper into the compacted waste,” he said.

“This makes the fire more difficult to control and extinguish within a short period.”

The DA has accused the city of failing to adequately secure the landfill and protect nearby residents from the effects of recurring smoke pollution.

DA spokesperson for Agriculture and Environmental Management, Marika Kruger-Muller, said residents living near the landfill have repeatedly endured days of smoke pollution following the fires caused by illegal waste reclaimers.

“Residents have endured days of persistent smoke pollution, with many reporting health effects such as coughing, aggravated asthma and burning eyes. This situation is unacceptable and poses a direct threat to public health and environmental safety,” Kruger-Muller said.

She added that concerns about security failures at the site were reinforced during a recent oversight inspection.

“It has become increasingly evident that security at the landfill site is severely compromised. Illegal recyclers continue to gain access through an unfenced section at the rear of the landfill, highlighting a critical failure in basic site management and infrastructure maintenance,” Kruger-Muller said.

She also questioned why some fires take several days to extinguish despite the presence of firefighting equipment on site.

Kruger-Muller described the activities of recyclers on the site as illegal

She said the DA maintains that stronger intervention is needed.

“Landfill sites generate methane gas that could ignite when fires are lit on the site. Such fires are very dangerous and very difficult to extinguish, which can lead them to burn for very long periods,” she warned.

“The response to these fires remains wholly inadequate. These prolonged response times unnecessarily worsen air pollution and extend residents’ exposure to harmful smoke.”

Kruger-Muller indicated that the DA will also escalate the matter to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for further oversight and possible enforcement action.

The metro acknowledged that recurring fires and smoke emissions remain a serious environmental concern.

“The city acknowledges that recurring fires and smoke emissions at landfill sites are a significant environmental concern. [It] may place the facility in contravention of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) and the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act due to their potential impact on air quality, public health and the surrounding environment,” Mashigo said.

He confirmed that the latest fire was reported to the Gauteng Department of Environment in terms of Section 30 of Nema, which governs the reporting of environmental incidents.

Mashigo said an Emergency Preparedness Plan is already in place to guide responses to fires and other emergencies, while infrastructure upgrades at municipal landfill sites have been budgeted for through the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework.

Implementation of those upgrades is expected to begin during the 2027/28 financial year.

He acknowledged operational shortcomings linked to uncontrolled burning by waste reclaimers and said training programmes have been arranged to educate reclaimers about the dangers of fires and their impact on both the environment and public health.

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