Makana residents plagued by dump site

PEOPLE in Makana municipality are up in arms over piles of forgotten garbage dumped outside their houses.

Residents in Grahamstown’s townships claim that the stinking municipal dump sites are a health hazard as children play around there.

Donkeys, cattle and dogs eat from the waste dumped by local businesses and residents.

Residents say on hot days the stench becomes unbearable. In addition, dangerous medical waste such as needles, blades and expired medicines lie around the tip where children as young as five play.

A cow died this week after eating something right in front of the provincial health department’s communication boss Siyanda Manana’s home in Fingo Village.

Manana said he had made countless pleas to the municipality to remove the Waste Tech container situated less than 50m from his home.

“On a daily basis I have to remove soiled nappies blown over to my yard by the wind.

“The municipality unilaterally decided to put a Waste Tech container near my home and now we have to put up with this.”

Manana said he had hired a bakkie to remove the cow’s carcass and take it back to its owner.

“I had trees and flowers that separated us from the railway line that were nicely maintained, but a fire that came from this dump destroyed the trees and flowers, nearly burning the flats at my home. Luckily, one of the tenants put the fire out.”

Manana said last year dogs were found eating a foetus. Another identified dumping site is the home where respected struggle veteran and former ANC member of provincial legislature Phila Nkayi grew up.

Nkayi said: “These are the things that make black people angry with the municipal administration. Refuse removal is a basic municipal task. I’ve gone to the municipality several times [about the matter].

“The least they can do is to maintain the site if they can’t shut it down.”

Makana municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramokolo said the sites were identified by the ward councillor.

Responding to allegations that rubbish remained uncollected for a period of up to a month, Ramokolo said the municipality had only one truck for collecting rubbish from 38 dumping sites due to vehicle breakdowns.

“The sites are cleaned once a month because we have many dumping sites, including illegal dumps. We have two trucks for the whole of Grahamstown.”

Ward 10 councillor Luyanda Sakata was unavailable for comment.

Ramokolo said the situation was made worse by residents dumping at unidentified sites.

“We have signs showing people where they must throw garden refuse. Containers are collected every time they are full. Dead animals are supposed to be reported by residents so that we can take them for disposal.

“Dump sites are meant for garden refuse and domestic rubbish is collected weekly from households,” Ramokolo said. —