Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jessica Nel and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the acting municipal manager, Thabo Panyani, to compel the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to restore environmental safety and ensure full compliance with environmental health regulations following the ongoing crisis at the Odendaalsrus Waste Management Facility.
The municipality has persistently neglected the facility, directly endangering surrounding communities, worsening public health risks, and accelerating environmental degradation.
During my oversight visit, I found the facility was under lockdown due to a lack of personnel to process the waste in accordance with procedures. This has resulted in waste being dumped on the side of the road leading to the facility by the public and by the refuse department.
This area is not zoned for waste dumping and thus violates many environmental regulations. It poses a considerable health risk for the pupils of Eldoret Secondary School and the residents of the nearby suburb.
Fire is the most significant hazard, as the combustion of plastic waste can produce toxic smoke that can be inhaled. It has already caused a plague of rodents, snakes, and insects, and potential fires could force these elements to seek refuge in nearby homes.
At the Allanridge dumping site, the same waste problems are occurring because there is no access due to waste being dumped along the roadsides. According to the people working on the site, the back actor is not available due to fuel shortages.
I have been driving environmental issues and reported earlier this year on a recycling company in Josias Street, Odendaalsrus, that is operating illegally and also in breach of environmental regulations. After many legal interventions to halt these operations and move the facility to an approved recycling zone, attempts have been futile.
It is genuinely concerning that neither the local nor the district municipality is taking action to execute the proper environmental regulations to ensure the safety of the environment and the people living in it.
A request for further intervention will be sent to the DA provincial leader in the Free State and to the MP for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Roy Jankielsohn.
The COVID pandemic has taught us how fragile the environment can become and the mortal effect it has on human beings. Unless all spheres of government start taking the impact of environmental management seriously, we can be certain of more pandemic outbreaks and dreaded diseases.
We will remain a vigilant watchdog and advocate for environmental safety, promoting the quality of life in our communities.