President’s intervention sought as Kya Sands illegal dumping crisis deepens
Randburg and Fourways residents are choking on toxic air, and their pleas for help seem to be falling on deaf ears. They are now begging President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention.
Residents in most parts of the Randburg and Fourways areas say they are struggling to breathe due to the suffocating grip of smog caused by an illegal dumping site in Kya Sands.
The skies, which used to be a clear blue, are usually shrouded in a murky gray haze, caused by the burning of waste and debris at any time of the day.
“We can’t breathe. We are not able to jog in the morning or later in the day because of the smoke. I am also talking from experience because ever since I moved here, I have been suffering from a sore throat and a painful chest,” says Noliqua Maseko, a community representative.
Read more: Court orders CoJ to address Kya Sands’ toxic air
He said their struggle to breath has left them with no choice but to take matters into their own hands by writing a number of letters to President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene.
“We have tried every method to get it resolved and this is our last resort. We want to let the president know that we can’t breathe with our kids. This is a national concern because the local authorities are failing to resolve it. We have had endless meetings with authorities from various departments and they are all playing a blame game without coming up with solutions.
“What we are asking is for them to enforce the by-laws and stop the illegal dumps. We are very much aware they are run by mafias who make profits from them despite compromising our health.”
Maseko, together with other concerned residents in the Randburg and Fourways areas, launched the: ‘We can’t breathe campaign’.
Also read: CoJ hauled to court for ignoring Kya Sand’s illegal dumping crisis
With it, he said they plan to hit busy traffic intersections donning masks and holding posters saying, ‘We can’t breathe’, to protest the inaction.
“We also encourage people to join the hashtag #CantBreathe on social media as they share their stories and photos, hoping to catch the president’s attention. We can’t breathe, and our children can’t breathe. We need the president to step in and take control. We can’t live like this anymore.”
Keith Elliott, who leads a separate furious campaign under The Kya Sand Burning Wasteland Community Forum Non-Profit Company, that saw the City of Johannesburg being dragged to court, said it all began when Pikitup failed to close the disposal site in 2010, as required by the Gauteng Department of Rural Development and Agriculture.
He said illegal ‘waste lords’ reopened the site to profit from dumping activities despite community health concerns.
He accused Pikitup of ignoring the issue, adding that at least 14 illegal dumps operate in the area, servicing 200 trucks daily, with hazardous waste including medical and toxic materials.
This was the reason the forum took legal action against the city. Their efforts were vindicated when they emerged victorious in their first court battle, with the city being ordered to undertake thorough air quality testing at its own expense on August 5.
Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp said he has been actively engaging with the relevant municipal departments to expedite the removal of illegal dumping. He added that he is working closely with community leaders to raise awareness and gather further evidence to strengthen their case.
“We are also in the process of escalating the issue to provincial authorities to ensure there is an immediate and sustainable resolution. The health and well-being of our residents is paramount, and I remain committed to holding the responsible parties accountable while seeking long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences.”
Pikitup directed the paper to rather speak to the City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane. He acknowledged that the city will conduct the air quality testing at its own cost. He would not, however, divulge the details of plans to halt the operation of the illegal dumping sites.
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Related article: Successful clean-up efforts in Kya Sand
