Blame it on the season – winter flies not due to refuse

POLOKWANE – Some residents say even though it is winter, there seems to be an increase in the number of flies in the city and they blame this on illegal dumping of refuse.

Janine Brummer, a resident who lives on a smallholding in Dalmada, told Review that the flies were a huge problem for her, as she had a food home industry and the flies caused unhygienic conditions. Brummer lives close to a gravel road where the illegal dumping of refuse often takes place and she blames this for the large number of flies.

Several other people who live in different areas of the city spoke to Review on condition of anonymity and said they also had a problem with there seeming to be a lot of flies around for this time of the year. They also blamed the dumping of refuse for this phenomenon.

However, residents’ concerns that the large number of flies were due to the Polokwane Municipality‘s alleged poor waste management, appear to be unfounded.

According to James Burger from the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, the flies that were found in winter differed from the common housefly that lived on garbage.

“These flies were known as cluster- or winter flies,” he said. “They can be pests in office buildings, houses and businesses in the winter. They are larger than houseflies and during their indoor period, they are semi-dormant, flying sluggishly,” Burger explained.

“The habits of cluster flies are very different from other common domestic flies,” he added, explaining that eggs were laid in the soil, and that the maggots feed on earthworms. “Cluster flies do not feed on garbage or animal manure.”

He said in late summer, cluster flies sought shelter for winter and flew to buildings in the afternoons to rest in sun-exposed areas.

Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said residents should report illegal dumping to the municipality. “Residents found dumping refuse illegally will be fined R1 000,” she warned.