Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Mpumalanga landfill sites in very poor condition

AfriForum audited 135 landfill sites nationwide this year as part of its national project to measure the standard of landfill sites in South Africa.

None of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga that were audited adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), a landfill site must adhere to specific standards.

This is how the best landfill sites compare to the worst:

Name of branch/landfill site	Municipality/ Responsible authority		Licence number	Compliance score (%)
Mpumalanga:				2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Amersfoort	Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM	–		–	–	–	6	–	–
Arnot transfer station	Steve Tswete LM	–		–	–	–	–	75	–
Barberton	Mbombela LM	B33/2/10960/P131		–	–	–	–	–	46
Belfast	Emakhazeni LM	12/9/11/P95		–	8	10	14	41	48
Bethal	Govan Mbeki LM	17/4/WL/MP/307/13/02		72	12	17	11	10	5
Breyten	Msukaligwa LM	–		–	–	–	–	0	–
Carolina	Albert Luthuli LM	–		–	–	–	0	4	0
Delmas	Victor Khanye LM	B33/2/220/9/P218		48	24	14	6	12	30
Dullstroom	Emakhazeni LM	–		–	12	2	0	4	0
Ermelo	Msukaligwa LM	16/2/7/C112/D1/Z1/P427		84	52	42	18	2	18
Evander	Govan Mbeki LM	–		–	–	–	0	0	6
Hendrina transfer station	Steve Tshwete LM	–		–	–	–	67	55	–
Kinross	Govan Mbeki LM	17/4/WL/MP/307/15/01		–	–	6	6	6	4
Leandra	Govan Mbeki LM	–		–	–	–	20	6	6
Lydenburg	Thaba Chweu LM	–		56	12	35	36	33	10
Machadodorp	Emakhazeni LM	–		16	16	6	3	10	6
Morgenzon	Lekwa LM	–		–	–	1	1	0	0
Middelburg	Steve Tshwete LM	16/2/7/B10/D33/Z1/P412		–	–	36	95	28	58
Middelburg (Dennesig transfer station)	Steve Tshwete LM	–		–	–	44	94	86	–
Middelburg transfer station	Steve Tshwete LM	–		–	–	–	100	92	–
Nelspruit	Mbombela LM	12/9/11/P5		–	–	64	80	74	–
Piet Retief	Mkhondo LM	–		40	68	57	39	12	48
Secunda	Govan Mbeki LM	17/4/WL/MP/307/13/01			76	42	19	24	10
Standerton	Lekwa LM	17/4/A18/MP305/10/01		24	32	26	14	0	18
Volksrust	Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM	–		—	–	–	16	2	16
Witbank	Emalahleni LM	B33/2/210/32/P136		68	64	47	30	60	34
White River transfer station	Mbombela LM	–		–	–	74	80	80	–

The audit consists of a list of 33 questions that measure the minimum requirements for landfill sites in South Africa and includes factors such as access control, fires, medical waste, fencing, rehabilitation etc. A landfill site must obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation.

According to Bronwen Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Highveld, most of the landfill sites in Mpumalanga are in a shameful state, which can be attributed mainly to a lack of municipality accountability.

Pretorius says the most common problems AfriForum identified during the audit were amongst others the absence of waste management licences, and the total mismanagement of sites.

AfriForum branches will also exercise pressure on authorities in their areas to establish waste monitoring committees to improve the waste management process. These committees will consist of municipalities and interested parties wanting to improve waste management in a particular town. AfriForum will arrange a meeting with Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environmental Affairs, to identify sites that need to be restored and reach the necessary standards.

The audit report will also be submitted to the Green Scorpions for further investigation and action against non-compliant municipalities. AfriForum will continuously monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites are improved to reach the required standards.