Civil rights organisation AfrForum was given a hard time when it was sent from pillar to post when it wanted to deliver a 16-page branch project report on an audit of municipal dumping sites to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
The report‚ drafted by Afriforum’s head of local government Marcus Pawson and Chirs Boshoff‚ was addressed to Edna Molewa‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs‚ who said she would not personally take receipt of the report because of the presence of the media.
“We have been liaising with the Minister since May this year and unfortunately a communication within her department resulted in the Minister not being available to come down and receive the report today. She said there are procedures to be followed but we are still giving her the report‚” said Pawson.
He was speaking outside the DEA offices on Thursday morning‚ flanked by other AfriForum members
This follows after the civil rights organisation in June and July audited dumping sites in areas it has branches under an initiative called #cleanSA‚ and captured the results in a report. This audit was done on the basis of the minimum requirements to which a dumping site must adhere as set out in legislation and regulations‚ inter alia the National Environmental Management: Waste Act‚ 2008 (No. 59 of 2008).
“There are four copies for each of her (the minister’s) branches that have a relevance to landfill sites. We want to have a positive change within the management in the landfill sites for all the levels of government that has a role to play‚” said Pawson.
The civil rights audit report only focused on municipal dumping sites for general waste.
A truck laden with objects such as medical waste‚ tyres and animal carcasses which reporters were told do not belong on a dumping site in accordance with applicable legislation was on display outside the premises.
Boshoff told TMG Digital that according to section 9(1) of the Environmental Management: Waste Act No. 59 of 2008‚ a municipality must exercise its executive authority to deliver waste management services — including waste removal‚ waste storage and waste disposal services — in a manner that does not conflict with national or provisional standards.
Pawson indicated that AfriForum audited 83 dumping sites across the country in 2014‚ 56 in 2015 and 83 this year.
Only 15 out of the 83 audited dumping sites complied with the 80% or more of the minimum requirements for dumping sites which meant that 63 municipalities did not comply with the minimum requirements.
In Gauteng‚ none of the branches or municipalities complied with the minimum requirements except Rooihiuskraal (84 percent) and Interwaste Environmental Solutions (100 percent) which both fall under the City of Tshwane Metro.
“This clearly indicates serious issues concerning those responsible for proper waste management throughout the country‚” added Pawson.
The audit report was finally received by representatives working in the DEA on behalf of the minister.
AfriForum has given Molewa 30 days to respond to the report.
AfriForum faces hiccups as it delivers audit report to minister
Civil rights organisation AfrForum was given a hard time when it was sent from pillar to post when it wanted to deliver a 16-page branch project report on an audit of municipal dumping sites to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
The report‚ drafted by Afriforum’s head of local government Marcus Pawson and Chirs Boshoff‚ was addressed to Edna Molewa‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs‚ who said she would not personally take receipt of the report because of the presence of the media.
“We have been liaising with the Minister since May this year and unfortunately a communication within her department resulted in the Minister not being available to come down and receive the report today. She said there are procedures to be followed but we are still giving her the report‚” said Pawson.
He was speaking outside the DEA offices on Thursday morning‚ flanked by other AfriForum members
This follows after the civil rights organisation in June and July audited dumping sites in areas it has branches under an initiative called #cleanSA‚ and captured the results in a report. This audit was done on the basis of the minimum requirements to which a dumping site must adhere as set out in legislation and regulations‚ inter alia the National Environmental Management: Waste Act‚ 2008 (No. 59 of 2008).
“There are four copies for each of her (the minister’s) branches that have a relevance to landfill sites. We want to have a positive change within the management in the landfill sites for all the levels of government that has a role to play‚” said Pawson.
The civil rights audit report only focused on municipal dumping sites for general waste.
A truck laden with objects such as medical waste‚ tyres and animal carcasses which reporters were told do not belong on a dumping site in accordance with applicable legislation was on display outside the premises.
Boshoff told TMG Digital that according to section 9(1) of the Environmental Management: Waste Act No. 59 of 2008‚ a municipality must exercise its executive authority to deliver waste management services — including waste removal‚ waste storage and waste disposal services — in a manner that does not conflict with national or provisional standards.
Pawson indicated that AfriForum audited 83 dumping sites across the country in 2014‚ 56 in 2015 and 83 this year.
Only 15 out of the 83 audited dumping sites complied with the 80% or more of the minimum requirements for dumping sites which meant that 63 municipalities did not comply with the minimum requirements.
In Gauteng‚ none of the branches or municipalities complied with the minimum requirements except Rooihiuskraal (84 percent) and Interwaste Environmental Solutions (100 percent) which both fall under the City of Tshwane Metro.
“This clearly indicates serious issues concerning those responsible for proper waste management throughout the country‚” added Pawson.
The audit report was finally received by representatives working in the DEA on behalf of the minister.
AfriForum has given Molewa 30 days to respond to the report.
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