A poor leachate management system, pollution of the environment accompanied by a lack of security, and a lack of gas and air quality monitoring have resulted in the dump emitting toxic fumes that pose a major health risk to residents. The failure of Msunduzi to implement proper controls at the dump has also resulted in the outbreak of fires. Steenhuisen, who was accompanied by DA Msunduzi Municipality councillors during his visit, described the situation at the landfill as disaster.

“The toxic waste from here is going straight into the Msunduzi River and some of the residents who don’t have access to running water end up using the water. It’s a gross violation of the law,” he said. The DA leader’s visit came shortly after the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched a probe into the landfill. The SAHRC, which said it was concerned about the risks posed by the dump to both the environment and residents, has promised to take all the necessary steps that would result in the implementation of safe measures around the landfill.
Msunduzi Municipality said it has already started implementing measures that will address many of the environmental concerns raised about the landfill. Apart from securing the landfill, the municipality said it has already appointed a civil engineering company to oversee the daily functioning of the site.

While businesses around the Pietermaritzburg area had in the past raised concerns about the dump, the Pietermaritzburg Midlands Chamber of Business (PMBC) said it was encouraged by the latest developments at the site. “The next step is for the business community to come up with our own plan to complement the municipality’s efforts, and present it to them,” PMBC CEO Melanie Veness said.

Source: News 24