The DA has urged the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality to start removing the refuse of three-quarters of residents who haven’t been receiving this service for weeks.

The party said they would inform the Green Scorpions of this violation of an environment that is a threat to residents’ health and well-being.

Only a quarter of people living in the municipality have access to municipal garbage collection services, according to census statistics. The remainder turns to illegal dumping.

‘In Harrismith residents transport waste by themselves’

“Only when a VIP is due to visit MaP, the municipality hastily collect the refuse dumped on the route and move it out of sight,” said Maluti-a-Phofung councillor Alison Oates.

“There are only two official sites in MaP which are said to have the necessary authorization to operate. One in Harrismith on the outskirts of Intabazwe and one which is a kilometre from QwaQwa residential areas.”

Many of the municipality's waste companies have been out of business for months, making it impossible for them to be maintained. In Harrismith, a large number of companies, residents, and the ratepayers association transport waste to the disposal site by themselves said Oates.

‘Only two refuse sites  served the MaP area in December 2023’

The municipality allegedly terminated a month-to-month contract with the service provider who was managing the only two refuse sites serving the whole area in December 2023 and the contract had expired in May 2023 but a new contractor was not appointed.

“For two months, the site in Harrismith has degenerated in a spreading area as the refuse is brought to the site where it is not collected and from where it is delivered and generally managed. The entrance to the site has been blocked and refuse is being spread all around the dumping site,” said the DA councillor.

“The municipality's total disregard for human health and dignity is depressingly lacking.”

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