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South African Landfills in Crisis as 60% Fail to Meet Compliance Standards
Political instability in South African municipalities is severely impacting waste management services, with 60% of landfill sites failing to meet compliance standards in the 2023/2024 financial year. This was revealed in a Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) report presented to the Portfolio Committee on Tuesday.
Widespread Non-Compliance in Landfill Sites
The DFFE report examined the compliance status of 544 landfill sites nationwide, revealing that:
- 16% (25 sites) were fully compliant
- 24% (37 sites) were partially compliant
- 60% (92 sites) were non-compliant
Deputy Director-General for DFFE Chemicals and Waste Management, Mamogala Musekene, said South Africa is struggling with backlogs in basic waste services, further exacerbating environmental risks.
Musekene noted that waste collection, sorting, and recycling have the potential to create significant employment opportunities while reducing waste disposal costs and protecting public health. However, waste recycling rates remain low, highlighting untapped potential in industrial innovation and job creation.
National Waste Management Strategy: Goals for the Future
The National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) is built on three pillars:
- Waste minimisation – Reduce landfill waste by 45% within five years, 55% within 10 years, and 70% within 15 years, aiming for zero waste to landfills.
- Sustainable waste services – Improve financial management and efficiency in waste collection.
- Compliance and enforcement – Strengthen laws and awareness campaigns to curb pollution, littering, and illegal dumping.
To support municipalities, the DFFE has invested R243 million in waste management resources, including compactors, skip loaders, and backhoe loaders.
Criminal Action Taken Against Municipalities
Despite administrative enforcement efforts, many municipalities fail to respond to compliance notices. As a result:
- 168 landfill sites have faced enforcement action.
- 52 criminal cases have been opened against municipalities for non-compliance.
- Eight cases have been settled through plea agreements.
Inspections found that many sites operate as illegal dumping grounds with no proper waste disposal measures, inadequate equipment, and weak access control.
Political Instability Worsens the Waste Crisis
The report highlights that political instability within municipal councils is a major factor affecting waste management quality and enforcement. Many municipalities are excused from enforcement action under the principle of cooperative governance, leading to minimal improvement despite interventions.
With limited government resources and lack of enforcement, South Africa’s waste crisis continues to escalate, threatening both the environment and public health.
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