In May 2022, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, launched a R44.5 million national waste-collection and landfill-management fleet intervention in the Vhembe District. Despite this massive intervention, however, the rampant scourge of illegal dumping and environmental degradation continues and keeps on mushrooming unabatedly in many areas.
The Thulamela Municipality especially is facing a serious problem regarding illegal waste dumping, where streets are said to be lined with litter and garbage that never gets collected. Bushy areas and open spaces in villages have become unofficial dumping sites where residents and businesses freely dispose of their rubbish, leaving these areas with the nauseating stink of rotten waste and dead animals. This has become a serious health threat for residents that also poses the risk of spreading diseases.
One of the worst affected areas is at Lufule outside Sibasa, where a long stretch of the tarred main road that cuts through the village is lined with litter and building rubble.
The local leader, Vhakoma Vho-Khathutshelo Makhari, said he knew about the problem. "We are very concerned. The people responsible for this are not local people, but neighbours from the nearby Makwarela township who use our area as a dumping site," he said. "We are calling on the Thulamela Municipality to arrest the non-compliers, and we further urge our residents to report all in transgression and involved in illegal dumping. Our health is at risk here, and the worst part is that this might even cause accidents as the road has been narrowed considerably by the dumping. Our senior traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho-Kenneth Mphephu, has complained to the municipality, but nothing is happening," he said.
The escalating situation has many people wondering whether municipalities have lost control over waste management as they seem to be failing grossly in enforcing punitive measures for non-compliance.
The Thulamela Municipality's waste and environment manager, Mr Simon Madi, said he was aware of the community's plight. "This is not the only place where we have these challenges, and communities have to bear the blame. They know who the culprits are but are not prepared to expose them. In that case, we are left helpless and we have to arrange for the rubble to be removed, which is what we are doing. We urge our communities to work with us and expose the culprits, so that they can face the law," he said.