Kinross dumping site poses a health hazard

KINROSS – An unbearable stench of decay and burning rubbish, rodents, flies and litter strewn all over fields and gardens, are what residents in Kinross have to endure daily because of the dumping site.

The site is dangerously close to residential homes on Manuel and Protea Streets and Spitz Street next to the old golf course.

Locals say this has been ongoing for more than two years and complaints and concerns are falling on deaf ears.
Their biggest concern is the hazard to the health of residents.

Most of the residents who spoke to Ridge Times said they are suffering from severe asthma and health conditions.
They believe this is due to pollution and the burning of rubbish.

When visiting the area, bulldozers could be seen at work at the dumping site and rubbish was blown in every direction with the wind.

ALSO READ: Councillor of Ward 105 in City of Tshwane dies in car accident

The dumping site is about 250 meters away from residential properties. There is also the concern about cattle that graze in the fields along the old golf course and around the dump site.

“This is unhealthy and dangerous for the cattle, let alone unhealthy for us as humans,” said a resident.

It would seem that this site is an added addition to the original Kinross dumping site.

Residents said there are two groups of scavengers, one group is of the “old dumping site” and the other group is of the “new dumping site”.

“Residents can not use the old dumping site. It is a whole community of scavengers that stay up there and harass people who want to dump their rubbish. People are scared to drive up there. The fighting between the two groups of scavengers is bad.

“The bottom lot of scavengers stop motorists proceeding to the top part of the dumping site. They fight with each other,” said the resident.

This leaves motorists no other option but to not go further and as a result, rubbish is dumped closer to the residential area.

A resident whose direct view is literally the dumping site, said the fly and rat infestation is unbearable.

“Every day we have rats and flies. We are continuously cleaning our yard of rubbish that blows over onto our property from the dumping site. We are pensioners and cannot afford to pay someone to come clean up daily.

“I am battling with asthma, I almost died a couple of days ago from an asthma attack which was caused by the smoke coming from this dump.

“We can’t sleep because the stench is so bad. We can’t even open our windows or doors.”

ALSO READ: Police catch duo stealing railway tracks at Daggakraal near Amersfoort

Another concern is that the dumping site attracts criminals. Residents fear leaving their homes unattended, whether it be to go on holiday or to run quick errands in town.

“We went on holiday and my home stripped of everything. Blankets collected over the years, clothes, towels, valuable jewellery, you name it, it was stolen. They even cleaned out my deep freeze,” said a resident.

“The police told us they couldn’t take fingerprints. Two weeks later, the police said the case has been closed and that they had no findings,” said the resident.

An elderly resident who battles emphysema said his health is deteriorating even more now with the continuous burning of rubbish and the smoke that blows in the direction of his home.

Property value is also decreasing as residents say the once prime area for property in Kinross is now surrounded by a rubbish dump.

“Who would want to buy property here when your view is this?”