Failure to invest in proper solid waste management systems continues to be the leading cause of the deteriorating state of some of the Eastern Cape’s cities according to WSU researcher, Asabonga Mngeni.
A case in point is the Mthatha Central Business District (CBD), which according to Mngeni’s research has just over forty operational waste bins, a decline of over seventy percent since 2012.
Despite this and other waste management issues in the district, no significant efforts have been made by the O.T Tambo Municipality to remedy the situation, citing budgetary constraints.
“When you go anywhere in Mthatha, the situation is unbearable. There is a lot of waste floating everywhere. Regardless of there being laws which govern waste management, the situation has worsened. From 2012 to 2022, you would have expected the municipality to provide more bins, but when you speak to the authorities, they will complain about financial muscle which is not there,” said Mngeni.
Mngeni made these assertions at the Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Conference Hosted by WSU in East London, where he presented his paper titled: Situation analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management practices in Mthatha Central Business District.
Despite the number of laws which talk to how waste should be managed, including the enforcement of bylaws, there seemed to be a disregarded for these by both law enforcement, and the general public.
“One other thing which is lacking is environmental education. People do things unknowingly at times. If there could be constant programmes which reached people and made them aware of the effects of discarding solid waste into the environment, we would see a bit of progress,” said Mngeni.
In the past two years, many cities around the country have experienced heavy rains, which contributed to flooding, loss of lives, business, homes, and livelihoods.
Mngeni asserted that we could face more of these if government together with citizens did not take solid waste management seriously, and with urgency.
By Yanga Ziwele