Pictures shared in social media platforms show a dumping ground located just metres from homes, piled high with household rubbish, broken furniture and discarded tyres. The site has reportedly been left unattended for years, becoming a breeding ground for disease-carrying pests and posing a danger to the surrounding community.

One of the residents, Pilane Mogorosi, said repeated promises by authorities to remove the dumping site have not materialised. 

Waste left unattended near homes of Kgakala resdients in North West. Photo: Supplied.

“It’s been more than a decade, if I am not mistaken, since the promise was made to remove the dumping site. The Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality continues promising us they’re busy trying to deal with it." 

“Sadly, one of the street kid lost his life at this very same place. The place is filthy, affecting the main entrance of both Kgakala and Leeudoringstad. It is a hazard to the whole community and detrimental to our health.  “So, what I think should be done, it should be relocated but far from the community and as soon as possible,” he says.

    

Mogorosi further accused both Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Maquassi Hills municipalities of failing residents. He claims there are numerous unresolved issues that the provincial government, district authorities and local council have continuously avoided.

Health experts have long warned about the dangers of living near unattended dumping sites. A study conducted in October in Rocklands, Bloemfontein, investigating risk factors for acute respiratory symptoms among residents living near such sites, found respiratory symptoms were more prevalent among people living within a 5 km radius. Complications included coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

'Largely rural North West struggles with limited funding'

North West struggles with service delivery, despite efforts by the provincial government’s Thutsa Lerole programme to accelerate service provision. Residents continue to face challenges such as unreliable water supply and deteriorating infrastructure amongst others. Provincial authorities have previously attributed some of these challenges to limited funding, noting that North West is largely rural.

OFM News has approached spokespersons for both Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Maquassi Hills municipalities for comment.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi  cvdw