The Standerton Advertiser published a front-page article in its 12 April edition about conditions at the dumpsite when medical waste among others, was discovered.
A group of municipal workers cleared the entrance and made sure residents do not dump refuse in front.
Carcasses were also seen with bones resembling those of cattle and the talk among the workers were about people dumping dogs in black bags at the dumpsite.
The workers said the smoke billowing upwards was because of their decision to rather burn paper than having the wind blow it in different directions.
Ms Carol-Anne Harper who lives near the Secunda Road, made no bones about the conditions.
Apart from the family having to foot medical bills for asthma-related problems, another factor comes into play.
“The road is very dangerous with the mist and smoke early in the morning,” she said.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted the Gert Sibande District Municipality’s health department about the medical waste on 5 April and an inspector said she could not comment since the newspaper had to contact the municipal manager of the Lekwa Municipality, Ms Gugu Mhlongo-Ntshangase, for the necessary approval.
The newspaper made three telephone calls and the first to the municipality’s landline, was not answered.
The newspaper contacted Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager.
Gert Sibande’s Air Quality Management Bylaw as published in the Provincial Gazette of 21 May 2014 regulates air pollution as follows:
“Any change in the composition of the environment caused by smoke, soot, dust, fly ash, cinders, solid particles of any kind, gases, fumes, aerosols …where that change has an adverse effect on human health or well-being…”
Waste includes any substance, whether solid, liquid or gaseous which is (a) discharged, emitted or deposited in the environment in such volume, constituency or manner as to cause an alteration in the environment.
The National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 is relevant.
The call to the health department of Gert Sibande was not in vain because the newspaper’s offices were visited on 5 April and the information shared. The official however, advised us to follow protocol and to contact the municipal manager.
The Standerton Advertiser spoke to Ms Mtshiselwa on 11 April about the predicament of getting comment from a health official and she referred us to the municipal managers’s secretary, Ms Dibuile Moloi.
As the municipal manager was not available, Ms Moloi said the inspectors should apply for permission by writing a formal letter to the municipality or alternatively by organising a meeting with Ms Mhlongo-Ntshangase.
Also read:
https://standertonadvertiser.co.za/91506/medical-waste-dumped-standerton-dumpsite/
