Northam’s battle with trash:  Locals are fed up and demand action

Under section 27 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008, “No person may (a) throw, drop, deposit, spill or in any other way discard any litter into or onto any public place, land, vacant erf, stream, watercourse, street or road, or on any place to which the general public has access, except in a container or place specifically provided for that purpose. The Act also provides for fines to be issued to people contravening the law.

Over the past week, Platinum Bushvelder spoke with two troubled residents, both fed up by the persistent rubbish issue in Northam, particularly the illegal stalls and littering in Ruby and First Street, which escalates the problem. Periodically, large amounts of this litter are cleared, only to rapidly accumulate again.

One resident appealed to the Thabazimbi Local Municipality for a stringent enforcement programme, urging law enforcement to issue fines to those guilty of littering or illegal dumping. He emphasised the public’s role in helping law enforcement identify offenders.

Questions arise: Why is there a passive acceptance of this litter? Why is waste only periodically removed in large quantities? As a start - why permit people and businesses to litter and pollute? 
After consulting another perturbed community member, who also expressed her concerns on social media, Platinum Bushvelder relayed these community grievances (whilst maintaining anonymity) to the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. In response, the Municipality shared photos of their refuse collection trucks at work in Northam’s extension 6 and promised attention to Ruby and First Street thereafter.

This second concerned community member queried, “Why does the councillor for ward 8 fail to acknowledge and report this situation to the municipality?”

The issue extends beyond mere uncleanliness. Growing evidence suggests that the environment significantly influences mental health.

Despite worrying unemployment rates, it remains crucial for business standards, encompassing safety, hygiene, and environmental stewardship, to be maintained, even in less formal settings.

For those seeking further clarification or intending to obtain formal permits to operate a stall, the TLM’s Local Economic Development office located at 7 Rietbok Street should be visited. As an alternative, Mr. Maphoru at 082 459 1692 or Ms. Masoga at 083 507 0640 can be reached from 07:30 to 16:30.