Illegal dumping is not only a Duvha Park problem, a Blancheville problem or a Reyno Ridge problem; it is an eMalahleni problem.

One dumping hotspot is the dirt road leading to the local SPCA in Blancheville.

But residents in the area ‘adopted’ the road and surrounding area and keep an eye out for people dumping their rubbish on their ‘doorstep’.

The dumping of waste material is currently regulated by 13 different pieces of legislation in South Africa, among them the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; the National Health Act 61 of 2003; the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989; the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, and the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.

Locally there are by-laws protecting the environment.

As people are seen dumping, their vehicle registrations are sent through to the ward’s councillor, Clr Maureen Scheepers who then reports to the local environmental department.

“I send through the photo proof and the time and date of the incident to a compliance officer at the environmental department, the guilty party is then traced and fined by the department. For this specific area the fine is R1 000,” Scheepers said.

“Unfortunately, even with all the previous articles and awareness campaigns, I still get the same excuses when I find someone dumping on the SPCA gravel road, either ‘but everyone dumps here, so I can dump here as well’ or ‘I didn’t know this is not a dumping site’.”

The municipality cleaned the SPCA road again on May 11.

 “We encourage citizens to assist the municipality by reporting and also protecting the environment for future generations,” said Mr Lebo Mofokeng, local municipal spokesperson.

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