The debate over the illegal dumping by Nelspruit residents took a new twist earlier this week. A concerned resident contacted Nelspruit Post and pointed out that even though the waste disposal site on the Kaapse Hoop road had been closed for nearly three years, Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) failed to remove the signboards directing the public there. “Like me, many residents might be new in town and would therefor not have known that the site was closed. With the signs still up everywhere it would be an easy mistake to make thinking that the old site at the airfield was still operational.”
Nelspruit Post received the first complaints about the ghastly state of the road next to the Nelspruit airfield around two months ago and has, since then, been focussing on bringing the culprits to book. Many residents claimed that they were not aware of the closure of the site whilst others said they could not afford to drive out to Kanyamazane to dump their refuse.
In response to this, the MLM spokesperson, mr Joseph Ngala, said the municipality would be taking interest in the matter and that those caught dumping illegally at the site would be named and shamed on the municipal website. “Illegal dumping is absolutely unacceptable and according to the municipal bylaws, perpetrators could even face jail time for their offense.”
He further explained that even though the new disposal site was situated relatively far outside the city limits, an interim site was established as a way station. “The public does not need to drive all that way to dispose of their waste. We have setup a station opposite Blinkwater Mills where they can drop their waste and from there it will be transported to the site,” Ngala explained.
“So my question is, how can the council threaten to persecute its residents, when their own signs still point to the old disposal site?”
At the time of going to print, Joseph Ngala could not be reached for comment.
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