POLOKWANE – Residents of an old age home next to an open field in the city say they struggle to breathe whenever illegally dumped rubbish is being burned in that area, while motorists say there is poor visibility on the road whenever rubbish is being burned.
Business owners who operate in the industrial areas say their biggest headache is dealing with incidents where people burn rubble and copper wiring to separate plastic from metal refuse. They say this practice often leads to runaway fires or smoke pollution.
Jack Ledwaba, a local taxi driver, says he has been accused of driving recklessly as he was forced to park in the road away from a taxi terminal due to heavy smoke.
“I had to stop there because I would have lost customers due to the heavy smoke that hung over the taxi terminal and the road,” he says.
Municipal spokesperson, Matshidiso Mothapo, says the municipal bylaws prohibit people from burning any refuse in the municipal area.
He says residents are strongly urged to make use of the municipal facilities such as the dumping site to get rid of any rubbish or refuse.
“Residents found guilty of illegal burning can be fined up to R1 000. Illegal burning puts other residents and properties at risk as fires can blow out of control, damaging surrounding buildings, ground and unsuspecting people or children,” says Mothapo.
Illegal burning can be reported to the Polokwane Municipality at (015) 290 2000.
