South Africa was faced with basic service backlogs, including the provision of basic waste services. Rubbish has been piling up in this field in Gugulethu, Western Cape.
Image: File
POLITICAL instability in South African municipalities is affecting enforcement action as well as the quality and management of waste collection with 60% of landfill services sites not being compliant in the 2023/2024 financial year.
This was brought to the fore during an overview by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on waste management, including the compliance status of municipal landfill sites in South Africa. The overview was presented to the Portfolio Committee on DFFE on Tuesday. There are 544 landfill sites in the country.
Mamogala Musekene, the deputy director-general of DFFE Chemicals and Waste Management, stated in the overview report that South Africa was faced with basic service backlogs, including the provision of basic waste services.
Musekene said inspections revealed that in the 2023/2024 financial year, 16% (25 sites) were compliant; 24% (37 sites) were partially compliant, and 60% (92 sites) were non-compliant.
She stated that waste collection, sorting, and recycling can potentially create significant employment opportunities, reduce input material costs, and protect human health and the environment.
Musekene said waste recycling rates in South Africa are yet to reach maturity. This was an indication of untapped opportunities in innovation, industrial development, and employment creation in the waste recycling sector.
The three strategic pillars of the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) are:
The DFFE has spent approximately R243 million in support to municipalities in the form of compactors, skip loader trucks, and Tractor Loader Backhoes (TLB). The total number of landfill sites in each province were: Limpopo 44 (35 operational); Eastern Cape 103; Mpumalanga 44; Gauteng 29; Northern Cape 92; North West 23 (57 total including closed); KwaZulu-Natal 40; Western Cape 96 (operational only); and the Free State 73 (64 licensed plus nine unlicensed).
The report stated that administrative enforcement action was taken against 168 landfill sites. However, municipalities frequently fail to respond to administrative notices, necessitating the issuance of multiple notices for one site.
A total of 52 criminal cases have been opened against municipalities for non-compliant landfill sites. Eight cases have been concluded through plea bargain agreements.
Musekene said inspections also found that most sites operated as dumping sites without access control, and there was a lack of/insufficient equipment to operate the sites.
The overview report stated that there were legacy issues like authorising dumpsites not constructed and adequately equipped to meet disposal standards and requirements.
Also, inspections found low levels of waste minimisation caused by historic and current poor practices. According to the report, the level of priority was given to environmental compliance e.g. allocation of resources - funds for operations, equipment (purchase and maintenance), human resources (staff complement and technical capacity), etc.
“The inspections found that in the spirit of cooperative governance, municipalities are excused from enforcement action. Lastly, political instability in councils affects enforcement action as well as the quality and management of services provided. There was minimal improvement despite interventions,” Musekene said.