EZIBELENI CLEANS UP ON ILLEGAL DUMPING
The department of environmental affairs and tourism organised a clean-up campaign in Ezibeleni as a build-up to the national Green Day launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Departmental staff and personnel from Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) who were partners in the campaign and community members collected refuse along the Ezibeleni access road and on the landfill site.
The department's regional manager Mncedisi Makosonke said the campaign was launched in Ezibeleni because it was one of the worst areas in Komani in terms of the dumping problem an wanted to make people aware of it
“Ezibeleni is full of litter, hence we came here for the launch which was a build-up to the president's launch of the national Green Day in Mdantsane where people from all walks of life came together to clean up around them. Illegal dumping is one of the main issues we are faced with in Komani so we felt this campaign would teach people the importance of keeping the environment clean,” he said.
“A buy-back centre is being constructed for people to sell their collected waste.
“The department has injected huge sums of money through the Chris Hani District Agency (CHDA) to ensure the centre creates sustainable jobs.”
EMLM portfolio head for community services Zukiswa Ralane said the local authority wanted to work with people who lived on the landfill site and Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers to assist in identifying people and businesses who disposed of rubbish in an illegal manner.
“One of our objectives was to inform landfill dwellers about the dangers of making fires at the site. The fire could be a danger to them as there are various gaseous items which businesses dump there illegally. Certain types of garbage may not be discarded on the landfill site. For example mortuaries and hospitals cannot dump things like needles because it is not safe for people who live there or children who also access the place.”
Ralane said professionals were mostly responsible for the illegal dumping on the roadside near Ezibeleni because they had access to cars and some refused to be told by EPWP workers where to dispose of refuse.
“We want landfill dwellers and EPWP workers to assist by noting every car registration number, when people dump refuse on the roadside. We will deal with the culprits accordingly.”
Ralane was candid in stating that some refuse lying around in some areas could be the result of the few refuse removal trucks the local authority has in its fleet..
“We will not hide the fact that we have been struggling with refuse removal, but we try our best to ensure it is removed in all areas. We recently had one of our trucks burn which will also affect this service because we do not only cater for Komani alone, but all towns under our jurisdiction.”
Ralane appealed to residents and businesses to be patient with the local authority as it will try to ensure refuse is collected on time, but also encouraged them not to litter.