Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork

Chapter 6: Down at the dumpsthe dump to get materials to rebuild his house. When his tuck shop was taken, he hadnothing and so came to the dump where he made a reasonable living.Conditions on the dump are harsh and many are sick. Nevertheless, it provided peoplewho have been harassed and marginalised by the state and the market with a space ofrelative autonomy. It was a place where they could make a living which they thoughtthey could rely on: “You can find piece work but it is not going to last. But withthe dump it is ongoing.” When they were denied access, some tried to approach themunicipality but met with a brick wall. Now they see their livelihoods being handedover to a ‘contractor’ (the recycling company) without anyone thinking to consultthem.They are now beginning to organise with the support of groundWork. They want:- The security staff to stop beating them;- To have a say in decisions about their own future. In particular, they want tonegotiate access to the dump. They do not want the contractor and, unlessthere is a proper participatory process, they want the project stopped;- Access to health care and to ID books so that they can access social grants.The Vaal TriangleThe greater part of the Vaal Triangle, a highly industrialised area based on coal and waterresources, falls in the Sedibeng district municipality north of the Vaal. An importantpart, centred on the chemical complex of Sasolburg, falls in the Metsimaholo districtin the Orange Free State south of the Vaal.It is not clear how many people live in Sedibeng. Official estimates range from 843,000to 1,362,000 according to Sedibeng’s 2008 Integrated Development Plan (IDP). 98 Theeconomy is dominated by manufacturing and services which each produce just shortof half the local ‘geographical value added’. Physically, the area is dominated by heavyindustry, and industrial waste streams and pollution are overwhelmingly evident.Industrial wastes surround and intrude on residential areas and are routinely dumpedat municipal dumps in contravention of the minimum requirements.98 At http://www.sedibeng.gov.za/IDP2008-09/Part%202.pdf.- 158 - groundWork - Wasting the Nation