Some landfill sites posing health risks to KZN communities
The provincial portfolio committee on Environmental Affairs says poor policy, lack of budget and non-prioritisation have given rise to numerous unregulated landfill sites that are posing health risks to various KZN communities.
Its observations come as yesterday the committee conducted oversight visits to the Mbazwana and Manguzi landfill sites in Umhlabuyalingana municipality.
Another such site that made repeated headlines is the New England landfill site in Pitermaritzburg which resulted in numerous fires, thick smog and numerous complaints from locals.
Committee chair, Sithembiso Mshengu, says this is why they are embarking on several oversight visits.
He says inspections at the two sites Umhlabuyalingana revealed significant non-compliance which has led to possible water contamination.
"There is no lining beneath the waste and as a result the waste seeps into the soil below and and contaminates ground water", he said.
"The Environmental Affairs Department along with the Water and Sanitation Department must conduct an urgent study to establish the extent of contaminated water which is being used by schools and local communities", Mshengu said.
