Smothering smoke as illegal dump burns

Northam – Clouds of grey smoke are what residents of Northam woke up to on the morning of Saturday, 6 January.

The illegal dumping ground was set alight at approximately 21h15 on the night of Friday, 5 November. The fire spread with great speed through the dumping ground, burning throughout the night, billowing as far as Extension six.

The cause of the fire is suspected to have been a squatter who had set a fire at the dumping ground. There was no immediate threat to residential areas, although residents found it difficult to breath. No injuries or damage to property was reported.

In an interview with Platinum Bushvelder newspaper, Piet Strydom, chief whip of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality said: “Although the municipality is working on improving the situation in Northam, Rooiberg and Thabazimbi, this incident is an unfortunate setback. We at the municipality are working on situations such as this with the budget we have.”