DA demands action at Gamagara refuse transfer site

03 January 2021

The assault and robbery of a grandfather and his nine-year old son at the Kathu refuse transfer site recently, has once again raised alarm about a lack of security and non-compliance by Gamagara municipality in terms of waste management. 

These dismal refuse collection services in Gamagara leave many residents with no choice but to take their own garden and household refuse to the transfer site in Kathu, from where it is transported to the landfill site in Deben. Residents are threatened by thugs, who have illegally settled at the site and who attack them, damage their vehicles and steal their possessions.  

According to Willie Aucamp, Member of Parliament and the Democratic Alliance (DA) Constituency Head of the Kalahari, the DA has been trying to get the matter addressed for years already, having submitted motions in council and having engaged with the past and current municipal managers. Yet five years down the line, the situation remains as dire and dangerous as ever.  

The DA can confirm that, due to complaints laid by the DA, the Green Scorpions are investigating issues pertaining to the rubbish sites and that they were due to institute criminal action against the municipality. Nothing concrete, however, has come of this to date. 

The DA is urgently pursuing engagements with the MEC of COGHSTA, Bentley Vass, as well as the MEC of Environment and Nature Conservation, Mase Manopole. It is high time for consequence management for non-compliant municipalities. 

“The lives of residents disposing of waste at the dump site must no longer be placed on the line by Gamagara municipality,” concluded Mr Aucamp.