06 Sep 2022

North West District Council (NWDC) fire rescue team has been dispatched to contain the fire that has engulfed the Maun landfill area since Tuesday last week.

The NWDC secretary, Mr Motlogelwa Thuso issued a public statement on Monday advising the public to remain calm as the exercise was delicate and complex.

Mr Thuso said so far the fire was confined to the tip-phase where noticeable smoke surfaced out with varying density during the morning and evening depending on the temperature.

He said the cause of the fire remained unknown, but preliminary investigations showed that there was a truck that disposed some contents that were suspected to contain hot ash from some business outlets.

Through consented efforts, he said the council and other stakeholders were on the ground to arrest the situation and prevent similar incidents in future.

However, he said a temporarily designated site within the landfill had been identified for safe disposal of waste and advised the public to follow safety instructions as outlined by the authority.

Some Maun residents have called on the council to urgently address the ongoing fire outbreak, saying the smoke from the landfill was posing a serious health risk to the community residing in the vicinity of the landfill.

The residents complained in an interview that they were experiencing dizziness and difficulty in breathing due to the intensity of the smell from the landfill.

One resident, Ms Gasekgale Moronkwe said the situation was unbearable as the smoke from the landfill had forced some residents to relocate temporarily to their relatives.

The smoke, she said, had covered Matshwane, Tsanakona, Gxhabara and some areas in the proximity of the landfill.

Ms Moronkwe said the situation was exacerbated by the wind, which transferred the smoke to the nearby settlements and cattle posts.

Another resident, Mr Gaelebale Magacha said there was need for an urgent action because the smoke could end up causing long-term health problems.

“I could not sleep at night because I was unable to breathe [properly] especially at night and if there is no action taken, the situation will have serious consequences in our health,” he added. ends