Please see pictures here, here, here and here
The DA in Moqhaka Local Municipality conducted two oversight visits at the Kroonstad landfill site, the first being in June 2022 and recently in February 2023, and found that the site has become a cause for great concern.
Various issues have been identified, including the landfill site fence which has completely deteriorated leading to no access control and inspection of waste dropped off at the site.
Among the many issues, the shortage of fleet was also highlighted. The landfill compactor, which was the only functional vehicle at the site, has been unserviceable for over a year due to an engine problem. This has created a challenge for regular and proper maintenance of the landfill site causing damage to the environment. Waste pickers are illegally occupying the site’s abandoned buildings and various forms of rubbish are carelessly dumped close to the landfill. Two of the existing buildings, the office and guardroom of the landfill site, are under renovations which still need to be completed.
Moreover, employees work in appalling conditions with no protective gear or equipment, which makes it difficult to carry out their duties. A case in point is the “gate controller” who has no shelter at the entrance to monitor access to the landfill site. The gate controller has created his roof, a net made out of waste, ironically. At the time of the most recent oversight, the landfill site had been without electricity for six consecutive months.
Evidently, the Kroonstad dump site appears to be the least priority despite being one of the most significant municipal facilities.
It is clear to the DA that the landfill requires better management and major improvements. All municipalities are regulated by the Constitution to promote a safe and healthy environment and Moqhaka municipality is no exception.
The DA will raise the issues in the upcoming Community and Social Services portfolio committee meeting to call for the urgent adoption of effective and sustainable solutions for the identified issues. In the interim, the DA will continue monitoring the landfill site’s progress to prevent any further shortcomings.