Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 6: Down at <strong>the</strong> dumpsSobantuSobantu looks onto <strong>the</strong> dump and <strong>the</strong> sewerage works across <strong>the</strong> river on <strong>the</strong> one side,and onto an industrial estate across <strong>the</strong> Byrnespruit on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. Residents say <strong>the</strong>y aresurrounded by pollution. The river is polluted by leachate and <strong>the</strong> stream by industrialeffluent. Those who used to fish stopped doing so when <strong>the</strong>y found fungal infectionson <strong>the</strong> fish. The township is also plagued with rats, flies and mosquitoes from <strong>the</strong>dump. In summer, <strong>the</strong> smell is unbearable, particularly when sunshine follows rain andcontaminated water evaporates from <strong>the</strong> garbage, or when <strong>the</strong> smoke from periodicdump fires blows across <strong>the</strong> settlement. According to Naidoo, Sobantu is not in <strong>the</strong>path of <strong>the</strong> prevailing wind. Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong> 2005 audit report found <strong>the</strong> highestrates of dust deposition in those parts of Sobantu closest to <strong>the</strong> dump. Residents say<strong>the</strong>re is a high incidence of respiratory ailments which are <strong>the</strong>n associated with, andexacerbate <strong>the</strong> effects of, Tb.Councillor Ngubane has lived over 50 years in Sobantu. He remembers when ithad a clean environment. He also remembers when <strong>the</strong> people had jobs. In <strong>the</strong> lasttwo decades, Pietermaritzburg’s shoe industry has closed down as have several o<strong>the</strong>rfactories. The impression of full employment, however, was an apar<strong>the</strong>id illusion.Sobantu was used as a labour dormitory and those who were surplus to requirementswere kept out by influx control. Some industries are now returning but <strong>the</strong>y are mostlyhigh tech and do not employ people from Sobantu.The dump has always provided a supplementary livelihood for some and cheap goodsfor o<strong>the</strong>rs. Those who pick have contacts in <strong>the</strong> dump or in factories disposing rejects.They always seem to know when <strong>the</strong> high value goods such as chocolate and chickenfeed will be arriving.Unlike many later settlements in South Africa, Sobantu has always had its wasteremoved and its streets swept. The service was previously managed locally at municipaloffices in Sobantu and <strong>the</strong> workers were part of <strong>the</strong> community. Now, however, <strong>the</strong>service is centralised. The street sweeping gangs are sent in periodically and are notresponsive to residents.- 156 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>