North West’s landfill sites in shameful 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.
Only 2 of the 21 landfill sites that were audited in North West 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 landfill sites in North West compare:
| Name of branch/landfill site | Municipality/ Responsible authority | Licence number | Compliance score (%) | ||||||
| North West: | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |||
| Bloemhof | Lekwa-Teemane LM | NWP/WM/DR4/2011/11 | 16 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 44 | |
| Brits (Hartebeesfontein) | Madibeng LM | B33/2/0121/41/P81 | – | 84 | – | – | – | 26 | |
| Christiana | Lekwa-Teemane LM | NWP/WM/DR4/2011/09 | 36 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 18 | ||
| Coligny | Ditsobotla LM | – | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delareyville | Tswaing LM | B33/2/330/44/P219 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 28 | |
| Klerksdorp | City of Matlosana LM | 16/2/7/C241/D4Z2/P514 | 64 | – | 45 | 18 | 10 | 36 | |
| Koster | Kgetlengrivier LM | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | |
| Lichtenburg | Ditsobotla LM | B33/2/330/3/P58 | – | 8 | – | – | 16 | 2 | |
| Mooinooi | Sebanye-Stilwater (Interwaste) | 16/2/7/A210/C29/Z1/P379 | – | – | – | – | 94 | 94 | |
| Ottosdal | Tswaing LM | NWP/WM/NM4/2012/11 | – | 40 | 29 | 2 | – | – | |
| Potchefstroom | Tlokwe LM | 16/2/7/C231/D13/Z1/P | – | 100 | 90 | 94 | 64 | 16 | |
| Potchefstroom transfer station | Tlokwe LM | – | – | – | – | 89 | – | – | |
| Wolmaransstad | Maquassi Hills LM | B33/2/330/19/P166 | – | – | – | – | 34 | 8 | |
| Rustenburg (Waterval) | Rustenburg LM | D09202-01 | – | – | 37 | 88 | 62 | 94 | |
| Sannieshof | Tswaing LM | NWP/WM/NM4/2012/09 | – | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 34 | |
| Schweizer-Reneke | Mamusa LM | 16/2/7/C301/D2/23/P421 | – | 64 | 17 | – | 8 | 22 | |
| Stella | Naledi LM | NWP/WM/DR1/2013/16 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 2 | – | – | |
| Swartruggens | Kgetlengrivier LM | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | |
| Ventersdorp | JB Marks LM | – | – | — | 3 | – | 0 | ||
| Vryburg | Naledi LM | NWP/WM/DR1/2009/01 | 92 | 96 | 50 | 52 | 32 | 28 | |
| Zeerust | Ramotshere Moiloa LM | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 16 | |
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 Petrus Coetzee, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Marico, most of the landfill sites in North West are in a shameful state. “Most landfill sites are in a shameful condition and this can mainly be attributed to the municipalities’ failure to repair and maintain the infrastructure and equipment of landfill sites.
Coetzee 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. “Most of the sites do not have the necessary personnel to manage the sites and there are practically no access control. The lack of access control furthermore leads to people living on the landfill 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.
