Landfill site drama: Provincial government keeping a close eye

Late on August 27, yet another fire broke out at the landfill site with smoke hanging over town leaving many residents concerned.

On Tuesday, September 3, Mogale City Local Municipality’s (MCLM) Assistant Manager of Environmental Law and Auditing, Angie Mpshe said operations have since been implemented to completely quell the fire at Luipaardsvlei Landfill Site and they can aggressively extinguish the smouldering around the waste pickers area, which is the last spot the team is dealing with.

On Wednesday 4 September, the Gauteng MEC for the Environment, Shyla Peters, visited the site for the first time due to numerous complaints and recent incidents of fire suspected to have been caused by arson.

• Also read: Landfill site fires: ‘This situation is utterly unacceptable’

The Krugersdorp News visited the site, alongside numerous ward councillors wanting to do oversight, where security at the gate refused entry.

DA Constituency Head for Mogale and Member of Parliament Janho Engelbrecht said they simply planned to conduct an oversight visit to assess how they might assist in identifying the cause of this ongoing public health risk.

“However, at the instruction of the Manager of Waste Management in Mogale City, the DA delegation was refused access, and subsequently our constitutional right to oversight. This raises even more questions as we are now left asking what the municipality has to hide.

• Also read: Arson blamed for fire at Landfill site

“The landfill site, which is situated close to residential areas, is on fire again, for the sixth time in 12 months. This time, the fire has been burning since July 20. The air near the landfill site is nearly unbreathable, causing a burning sensation in your throat and eyes. The issue has been raised with the municipal executive multiple times, however, nothing has been done to alleviate this public health risk. Mogale City’s executive simply does not care,” Engelbrecht said.

Meanwhile the spokesperson for the MEC for Environment, Gareth Brown said during Peters’ visit, she was assured by municipal officials that they are collaborating closely with the police and Public Safety to ensure that those responsible for the fire are held accountable.

• Also read: VIDEO: Smoke in the air: Residents fired up … for all the wrong reasons

“The landfill site is a crucial public facility, essential for the responsible management of waste and disposal. The recent arson not only disrupts these critical waste services but also poses significant dangers to local communities. Dangerous fumes released from the burning waste have threatened nearby homes and businesses, in addition to causing long-term environmental damage,” Brown stated.

“Peters observed positive progress in the efforts to fully extinguish the fire. The operational team on site has made significant strides, particularly in the final phase of addressing the smouldering areas. Notably, open flames on the northern side of the landfill have been completely extinguished, which was a priority to protect the working face of the site that was unaffected by the fire. The team has also successfully tackled the smouldering around the waste pickers’ area, which was the last remaining smouldering section,” Brown added.

Brown continued that in response to the ongoing situation, the municipality is deploying additional equipment and resources to expedite the current measures. As a precautionary step to ensure safety, the landfill site remains temporarily closed to prevent accidents and injuries.

Peters expressed her commitment to ensuring the continued safety and operational integrity of the landfill site and stressed the importance of maintaining rigorous oversight and preventive measures to avoid future incidents.