Dump chaos worsens

Conditions at the municipal rubbish dump have deteriorated, nine months after a powerful coalition of Grahamstown businesses, institutions and high-profile individuals turned to the courts to force Makana Municipality to improve safety and environmental management at the site.

This is according to the Makana Unity League, which was granted an order in the high court in Grahamstown on 8 September last year, compelling Makana Municipality to improve conditions at the landfill 3km out of town on the Cradock road.

In a letter sent to Makana’s lawyers earlier this month, the league alleges working conditions were “nothing less than scandalous and appalling” for municipal staff and security workers at the site.

A letter from the league, sent by their lawyers, Wheeldon, Rushmere and Cole, says the service provider, Tacpro Security Services, was to provide monitoring in the form of four security guards during the day and two at night.

These guards were meant to be trained and equipped with radios and computerised data collection at the gate and “a possible quad bike”.

Instead, an inspection on 5 June revealed two guards in the day and one at night.

“Although the guards work 12hour shifts they do not have a toilet or a tap,” the document states.

“We are advised that there is a hose sticking out of the ground near their office which perpetually runs and wastes water.”

The security guards work “in constant fear” following a robbery in April, the letter said.

“There is no provision for the guards to receive heat during the cold, or an adequate cover; Fires still break out at the waste disposal site as the guards are unable to communicate with each other and monitor properly.”

Because the plumbing hasn’t been repaired, the toilet for the guards cannot be installed, the letter says.

The letter alleges that working conditions for the municipal worker at the dump are even worse than those of the guards.

“There is no shade and he is required to sit in the sun.”

The original application sought to have security problems, litter that blows into surrounding areas, thick smoke from fires at the dump, and other health concerns addressed.

Among other actions, the 8 September order compels Makana Municipality to:

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