15 Oct 2018

It has been 11 years since Gamodubu regional landfill has been in operation. 

When news of development of this magnitude landed on residents’ ears then during the consultative process, it was received with mixed feelings.

Some residents who were optimistic that they would find employment gave the development the green light while some who did not approve of it fearing the effects and impact it would have in their lives hesitated for it was something they were not ready to live with.

However, as planned, the development succeeded. Now the landfill is almost half way through its lifespan and the experience has not been all rosy. 

Along the years, residents of Gamodubu have had to host  ‘strange residents’ in the form of flies, worms, stray dogs,  birds and foul odour. 

In addition, they now have to deal with the remnants of raging fires emanating from the landfill in the form of intense smoke, something that appears to frequent their environment.

The burning at the landfill that lasted for quite some time was first experienced last year around this time and this being the second time the landfill caught fire, the situation left residents with more questions than answers. 

Still with an unknown cause of what started the fire, a thick dark cloud of smoke that covered the entire village and other areas as far as Gakgatla continues to be felt by residents even after the fire has died down.

This was revealed by residents in a highly charged kgotla meeting recently. 

The meeting that was addressed by Kweneng District Council (KDC) chairperson Mr Jeffery Sibisibi who meant to seek solutions and map a way forward but instead evoked residents’ tempers.

Residents who took to the podium one by one expressed frustration on the negative effects brought about by the landfill, which they felt the Kweneng District Council lacked capability and expertise to manage.

Therefore, some called on KDC management to consider privatising some of the services.

Addressing KDC management, Gamodubu Village Development Committee (VDC) vice chairperson Mr Obitseng Rasetsoga said that last year when tyres at the landfill caught fire, the management promised to bring experts and doctors to examine the residents and find out how the smoke might have affected them, but that was not done.

He said this was the second time the landfill caught fire although the council said the fire had been put off, residents still believed the fire was not totally out because they complained that they still felt the effects of the smoke. 

Some have reported to have itching eyes, dry throat and choking with all of these symptoms being felt at night time.

Mr Rasetsoga said that residents were worried that their health was compromised and asked the council to provide medical assistance.

One of the residents Mr Kabelo Motlapele complained that the landfill was not managed properly. 

He said that the fact that the landfill caught fire for the second time and there was no clear cause showed that the council had not learnt anything from the first fires. 

He also complained that since the council did not have proper waste management processes, this had led to the village performing poorly in clean up campaigns.

He further said that residents did not reap any proceeds from their livestock because buyers condemn them alleging that they fed on waste materials, especially disposable nappies which were all over the place. 

He stated that this was caused by lack of proper waste disposal procedures.

For his part, Mr Sepheko Esi, alluded that the after effects of the landfill on their health would be felt in the long term, adding that unfortunately by then it would have been too late. 

He called on the council management to seriously consider outsourcing waste management services because clearly the council did not have the expertise to manage it. 

If waste was not properly managed he indicated that the country would fail to attract investors.

Another resident, Mr Aobakwe Lesolame advised the council to provide empirical evidence on whether people were safe or not from the after effects of the burning of the landfill. 

He concurred with other residents that the real effects would be felt long term just like people who had worked at the mines long ago, but were now suffering from ill health.

Mr Lesolame also opined that KDC should focus on having preventative measures as opposed to reactionary ones. 

He further suggested that residents demanded general health assessment in comparison with other people residing in other areas where there were no landfills to determine whether there were health risks stressing that ‘health is a human right issue’.

“If the landfill is not managed efficiently, people will shun it,” he emphasised.

Responding to their concerns, Mr Sibisibi acknowledged challenges at the landfill. 

He said one of the solutions they had come up with was to dig a borehole at the landfill so that they could react promptly whenever there was a fire. 

He indicated that at the moment, the fire brigade in Molepolole could not react quickly because of the distance coupled with traffic jam which often hamper their efforts every time there was a fire.

He however requested all to report to the nearest clinic whenever they were not feeling well and report signs of ailments in livestock to the veterinary department so that they could react accordingly.

Mr Sibisibi urged all to learn to live with waste materials and suggest best waste practices.

However, according to KDC council secretary, Mr Golebaone Kgari the cause of the fire was not yet established, but did not rule out the possibility of burning substances that might be transported to the landfill, citing that there was a lot of chemical reaction going on in the landfill, which renders the place susceptible to fires. ENDS