This has caused a situation where plastic bags, broken bottles, and other waste materials pose health hazards on nearby fields and farms, threatening local agriculture and wildlife and causing lasting environmental damage.

The most pressing concern is that the waste disposal site has a license, but does not adhere to the conditions of the permit, said DA Lejweleputswa District Cllr André Kruger.

Illegal dumping

The entrances of the dumping site are not accessible; therefore, waste is dumped outside and people burn rubbish now and then, said Kruger.

Stray pigs and other animals are frequently seen scavenging through the waste, raising concerns about the spread of disease. Having animals on the property shows a lack of management and increases the potential for contamination for both people and animals.

Local eco-tourism game farm

The pollution undermines tourism efforts as it makes a poor impression on the visitors of the nearby local eco-tourism game farm.

The Theunissen waste site. Photo: Media release

The municipality has responded to enquiries by OFM News. “Despite challenges that you have flagged, internally, we’re developing measures to capacitate our waste maintenance, monitoring, and waste segregation efforts,” said Masilonyane’s municipal spokesperson, Zongezile Ntjwabule.

He further claimed that last week, the municipality’s EPWP team embarked on manual waste collection and cleaning outside the landfill site to collect and remove scattered waste into the enclosed site.

The municipality allegedly has requested support from sector departments and mining companies that are operating within their jurisdiction. The internal municipality team states they are searching for and establishing a new landfill using advanced waste management technologies.

Meanwhile, North West residents have been battling a crisis beneath their wheels: Recent floods damaged roads and bridges on Tlhole Road. Ngaka Modiri Molema and Ramotshere Moiloa are two of the district municipalities worst affected.

This has caused serious harm to important road networks and bridges, cutting off towns and seriously affecting economic activity in several municipalities.

For a long time, opposition parties have blamed the failing circumstances on a serious lack of accountability, corruption, and government failure.

OFM News/Refilwe Bekane cg