Health crisis in Mount Vernon: Residents demand action on illegal dumping

Residents of Hillary, Mount Vernon, and including the suburb of Malvern in Queensburgh are grappling with a worsening stench emanating from illegal dumping on vacant land in the nearby Cato Manor area.

They are concerned about the health challenges the stifling odour presents, and complained that local authorities have ignored their requests for assistance.

George Botha, an affected resident, said: "We have a number of people with weak immune systems who are subjected to this smell daily," he said.

Botha said his attempts to engage with the local councillor so that formal complaints with the municipality could be lodged, were unsuccessful.

"This problem is detrimental to our health," he emphasised.

Echoing Botha’s frustrations, was another resident who asked not to be named, he described the daily toll of the odour on his health, and stated that he suffered with sore eyes and a scratchy throat as a direct consequence.

"Where are our councillors? They are paid to sort out these issues," he asked.

"If this were Chris Pappas' (Umgeni Municipality mayor)  area, he would be out here doing detective work," said the resident.

However, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, assured residents that the matter was being dealt with and that relevant municipal directorates were actively attending to the situation to deliver the appropriate action.

“A meeting was held on Monday to address the issue, and as a result, the affected site has been barricaded.

"The Fire Services Directorate continues to extinguish the smoke, while the Roads Infrastructure Management Directorate was assisting by digging with an excavator to expose smoldering areas.

"Once the smoke has been fully extinguished, the waste material will be removed and transported to the designated landfill site for proper disposal.

"The municipality also continues to implement measures to curb illegal dumping across the city.

"These include supporting waste pickers and cooperatives through training and formal partnerships to create economic opportunities from waste, running ongoing public awareness campaigns to inform residents about the impact and penalties of illegal dumping, and educating schools, businesses, and community organisations on responsible waste management practices,” Sisilana said.

Ward 65's councillor, Samantha Windvogel, while acknowledging the residents' distress, weighed in on the ongoing issue.

She stated that the hazardous odour was emanating from an illegal dumpsite on Umkumbaan Road in Chesterville, where waste piles have caught fire underneath, which is complicating efforts to extinguish the blaze.

“Evidence suggests a syndicate is operating at this site, exchanging money for dumping services, while local communities bear the consequences of the greedy and inconsiderate actions,” explained Windvogel.

She confirmed the municipality's action plan, and indicated that the site was barricaded to prevent trucks from accessing the area for dumping.

"To address this issue effectively, it is essential to target the source by excavating the site, which will necessitate the use of specialised machinery," said Windvogel, although the community remains sceptical about the effectiveness and timeliness of these measures.

DAILY NEWS