Fire at New England Road Landfill Site still smouldering

The New England Road Landfill Site fire remained stubbornly active on Tuesday, with deep-seated hotspots continuing to smoulder despite the blaze being contained, leaving nearby residents to endure another day of choking smoke and concerns over the health risks posed by the lingering fumes.

In the morning, thick plumes of smoke continued to rise high into the sky, forming a dark haze visible from surrounding communities.

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The smoke, carrying potentially harmful gases and pollutants released by the burning waste, drifted across nearby neighbourhoods, leaving residents complaining of breathing difficulties and a persistent acrid smell.

Acting municipal spokesperson Nompumelelo Mthembu on Tuesday said fire rescue services continued to conduct firefighting and containment operations on site.

While the fire has been contained and is not spreading, it is deep-seated, making it complex to extinguish completely. Firefighting efforts are being supported by water tankers and landfill graders, which are assisting with suppression and containment operations.

“Fire crews will remain on site until the fire has been fully extinguished and the area has been declared safe,” said Mthembu.

Residents living near the landfill said they survived another day of choking smoke, and appealed for a quicker way of putting the flames out.

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Sobantu resident Gift Majola said his community had been suffocating since the fire broke out, with little respite by yesterday morning.

Without apportioning blame, the least the authorities should be doing is to find a lasting solution to this health hazard. If landfill sites are prone to fires because of gases that build up underground, then there should be measures in place to prevent situations like this from getting out of control.

“It doesn’t have to continue for days, exposing residents to harmful emissions,” said Majola.

Another resident, Mondli Zungu, said the previous fires had triggered sinus infections, and he had to spend time visiting clinics and doctors.

“I worry that the City takes too long to extinguish fires when they flare up at the dump site.

“We live literally next to the site and, when there’s a fire, we are the most affected before the smoke can reach the atmosphere and spread or die down.

“City officials need to come up with a better plan to protect residents from this health hazard,” said Zungu.

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The Msunduzi Association of Residents Ratepayers and Civics (Marrc) said that beyond the visible smoke, people are worried about the health risks associated with prolonged exposure, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory conditions.

Marrc CEO Anthony Waldhausen said: “We are living in an era where climate change is one of the greatest threats facing South Africa and the world. Every sphere of government has a responsibility to reduce environmental harm and work towards lower carbon emissions.

It is therefore difficult to understand why communities that are directly affected by the landfill continue to receive so little engagement from those elected to represent them.

He said they have engaged extensively with residents, yet there was little evidence that affected communities have been regularly consulted about the management, future, or rehabilitation of the landfill site.

“People deserve to know what is happening in their neighbourhood, what risks they face, and what plans exist to address them.

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“Public participation should not happen only after a crisis has occurred. The people of Sobantu, Lincoln Meade, Mountain Rise, and Pietermaritzburg deserve more than assurances.

“Addressing landfill management responsibly is an essential part of combating climate change, reducing pollution, and safeguarding public health for present and future generations,” he said.