NEWSCOM – Residents have lodged a complaint concerning illegal dumping near a small bridge, and which is the source of an unbearable stench that has engulfed houses nearby.
One of the residents, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimization, stated that used tyres, building rubble, old appliances, as well as general household and commercial waste is thrown here.
“People think it is easy to just dump anything here since no one is controlling the situation,” he said. He felt there was a lack of public awareness an understanding of environmental laws. “Illegal dumping poses a health hazard as it can pollute our local waterways and groundwater, or cause injury to children since they play around the dump.
We also have mosquitoes and other noxious insects attracted by this site and it lowers the value of our surrounding land and neighbourhood,” he said.Mpumalanga News discovered that there was a pipeline that supplies water to the area, and when the dump is set alight it also burned the pipe.
The smoke usually hangs over the site for more than a week since there is too much rubbish piled up to burn out quickly. The refuse also prevents the water from flowing under the bridge. All this is close to Mthombo Secondary School.
The newspaper tried several times to contact Mbombela spokesperson, Mr Joseph Ngala but he was not available for comment before going to print.
