Mount Vernon residents demand action against toxic smoke from illegal dumpsite

Durban's Mount Vernon and Hillary communities are calling for an illegal dumpsite in Chesterville to be closed because of air pollution concerns. 

Sarah Basson, a representative of the residents, said the toxic effects of a refuse fire have been causing health problems for residents in eThekwini Ward 65 for more than two months.

She said that after tracing the source of the smoke, they tried to find the cause of the fire from the municipal officials.

Basson said the community was trying to get a clear explanation of what steps were being taken to extinguish the fire. This is affecting hundreds of homes and thousands of people.

Residents complained that the smoke got worse at night in low-lying areas such as Moorleigh Road, Philhaven, Lille, and Rosewarne. They also requested that the municipality enforce the Air Quality By-Law of 2020.

“We have also been collecting information from residents who have become ill from the toxic smoke. Some residents have even required emergency treatment and/or hospitalisation as a result of the smoke, so this has become a public health problem,” Basson said. 

Desmond D’Sa, the coordinator for the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), said they had received a complaint from the community, went to the scene, and then wrote to the municipality. 

“Pollution has no boundaries, and this is impacting all communities in the vicinity of this dumpsite that has been smouldering for several weeks. The local council must act to safeguard the health and well-being of the communities that bear the brunt of this toxic pollution by stopping the fire and putting their health first,” D’Sa said. 

eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the city is aware of the illegal landfill located in the Chesterville/Ridgeview area.

Site inspections have been conducted by the Waste Management Directorate (WMD) and the Air Quality Directorate, and the matter has been escalated to other relevant city directorates for intervention. 

She said joint site inspections have also been undertaken.

In addition, the WMD has escalated the matter for inclusion on the city’s Environmental Compliance Committee database to ensure it receives the necessary attention and ongoing monitoring.

“Illegal dumping remains a significant challenge for eThekwini, with multiple and interlinked impacts. These include the high costs associated with clearing illegal dumps, which place financial strain on the municipality,” Sisilana said. 

Illegal dumping causes environmental degradation of vacant land, open spaces, and watercourses, and risks to human health and safety, including fires that cause air pollution and damage stormwater infrastructure, potentially leading to flooding.

She said that illegal dumping also negatively affects the aesthetic quality of areas, undermining civic pride and degrading public spaces.

Despite increased enforcement efforts, including fines of up to R5,000 issued to individuals and businesses, illegal dumping continues to occur.

The municipality emphasises that illegal dumping is both a behavioural and systemic challenge that requires a collaborative approach.

Residents are advised that air-pollution-related concerns can be reported to the Health Unit Complaints Line on 031 311 3555.

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