Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Anelia Smit and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng. See attached pictures here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nketoana recently conducted an oversight visit to the Reitz dumping site after receiving numerous complaints from residents about the site’s poor condition and the road leading to it.
Residents who are forced to transport garden refuse and other waste to the site at their own expense are being exposed daily to unacceptable conditions that have persisted for a long period of time. During the visit, it was observed firsthand that the main road leading to the dumping site has become almost completely inaccessible.
The road is filled with deep trenches, potholes, and muddy sections that have worsened significantly after the recent rains. The road’s condition is so severe that ordinary delivery vehicles and smaller vehicles often cannot travel through it safely. This creates major frustration for residents who need to use the facility, as well as for workers and contractors serving the area.
As a result of poor access to the site, a serious problem has now developed: waste is being dumped on and alongside the road leading to the dumping site. Both residents and the municipality are currently disposing of waste outside the registered dumping area because the site itself has become virtually inaccessible.
This illegal dumping not only creates an unsightly environment but also places further financial pressure on the municipality, as contractors must be appointed at high cost to remove the waste and transport it to the registered dumping site.
The DA is concerned about the health and environmental risks created by this situation. Large amounts of plastic and other waste are being blown into surrounding farmlands, causing severe pollution. Farmers in the area are directly affected, as animals regularly consume plastic, which can lead to livestock deaths.
This situation poses a danger not only to livestock and wildlife but also to people living and working in the area. This problem is not new and has already been reported to the municipality over an extended period. During the rainy season, the situation deteriorates drastically, yet only temporary measures are repeatedly implemented, with no meaningful or permanent intervention.
We have reported the matter on numerous occasions, and the problem has once again been brought to the attention of the relevant department and the division’s director. The director is fully aware of both the extent of the problem and the serious frustrations experienced by residents.
The municipality has indicated that a clean-up will happen soon.
The DA will continue to put pressure on Nketoana to ensure a sustainable, permanent solution is found to the problem. Residents of Reitz and surrounding areas deserve safe, accessible, and well-managed waste disposal facilities, as well as a healthy, clean environment.
We remain committed to fighting for improved service delivery, accountable governance, and the protection of the environment and communities of Nketoana.