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Mpumalanga landfill sites in very poor condition

AfriForum audited 135 landfill sites nationwide this year as part of its national project to measure the standard of landfill sites in South Africa.

None of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga that were audited adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), a landfill site must adhere to specific standards.

This is how the best landfill sites compare to the worst:

Name of branch/landfill site Municipality/ Responsible authority Licence number Compliance score (%)
Mpumalanga: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Amersfoort Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM 6
Arnot transfer station Steve Tswete LM 75
Barberton Mbombela LM B33/2/10960/P131 46
Belfast Emakhazeni LM 12/9/11/P95 8 10 14 41 48
Bethal Govan Mbeki LM 17/4/WL/MP/307/13/02 72 12 17 11 10 5
Breyten Msukaligwa LM 0
Carolina Albert Luthuli LM 0 4 0
Delmas Victor Khanye LM B33/2/220/9/P218 48 24 14 6 12 30
Dullstroom Emakhazeni LM 12 2 0 4 0
Ermelo Msukaligwa LM 16/2/7/C112/D1/Z1/P427 84 52 42 18 2 18
Evander Govan Mbeki LM 0 0 6
Hendrina transfer station Steve Tshwete LM 67 55
Kinross Govan Mbeki LM 17/4/WL/MP/307/15/01 6 6 6 4
Leandra Govan Mbeki LM 20 6 6
Lydenburg Thaba Chweu LM 56 12 35 36 33 10
Machadodorp Emakhazeni LM 16 16 6 3 10 6
Morgenzon Lekwa LM 1 1 0 0
Middelburg Steve Tshwete LM 16/2/7/B10/D33/Z1/P412 36 95 28 58
Middelburg (Dennesig transfer station) Steve Tshwete LM 44 94 86
Middelburg transfer station Steve Tshwete LM 100 92
Nelspruit Mbombela LM 12/9/11/P5 64 80 74
Piet Retief Mkhondo LM 40 68 57 39 12 48
Secunda Govan Mbeki LM 17/4/WL/MP/307/13/01   76 42 19 24 10
Standerton Lekwa LM 17/4/A18/MP305/10/01 24 32 26 14 0 18
Volksrust Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM 16 2 16
Witbank Emalahleni LM B33/2/210/32/P136 68 64 47 30 60 34
White River transfer station Mbombela LM 74 80 80

The audit consists of a list of 33 questions that measure the minimum requirements for landfill sites in South Africa and includes factors such as access control, fires, medical waste, fencing, rehabilitation etc. A landfill site must obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation.

According to Bronwen Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Highveld, most of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga are in a shameful state, which can be attributed mainly to a lack of municipality accountability.

Pretorius says the most common problems AfriForum identified during the audit were amongst others the absence of waste management licences, and the total mismanagement of sites.

AfriForum branches will also exercise pressure on authorities in their areas to establish waste monitoring committees to improve the waste management process. These committees will consist of municipalities and interested parties wanting to improve waste management in a particular town. AfriForum will arrange a meeting with Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environmental Affairs, to identify sites that need to be restored and reach the necessary standards.

The audit report will also be submitted to the Green Scorpions for further investigation and action against non-compliant municipalities. AfriForum will continuously monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites are improved to reach the required standards.

  • Read the report here.

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