The Kimberley Prospector

KIMBERLEY – A thick pall of toxic smoke hung over Kimberley on 20 February, the result of a smouldering waste fire at the city’s Municipal Dump site. The blaze, visible from the N12 highway and Galeshewe, sparked serious concerns for the health and environmental well-being of Kimberley residents.

A concerned cyclist, while riding on the N12 highway, witnessed a massive plume of smoke rising from the dump and reported, “Lots of smoke boiling from the municipal dumps again this morning.” This statement highlights the recurring nature of this issue, posing a serious threat to the community’s health.

Despite initial reports, the fire persisted throughout the day. By mid-afternoon, noxious fumes from the blaze had reached some Galeheshwe neighbourhoods, leaving residents choking on acrid smoke. Historical weather data indicates the wind shifted again at 18:00 to a westerly direction. This wind pattern could potentially carry toxic smoke over the heart of the city, possibly affecting neighbourhoods like Riviera and Kirstenhof.

The Facebook page, Kimberley Dump Site, which is dedicated to monitoring the site, shared a video of the fire. They pointed to the lack of a bulldozer on site, a possible sign of inaction stemming from expired contracts on the part of the Sol Plaatje Municipality.

This incident highlights a disturbing pattern. Without consistent monitoring and reporting from engaged citizens, environmental hazards like this easily slip through the cracks. Across Kimberley, wastefires and illegal dumpsites continue to proliferate, jeopardizing the health of residents without meaningful intervention.

Residents report an apparent lack of accountability, with no known cases of fines or arrests despite evidence of transgressions.

It’s time for the Sol Plaatje Municipality to acknowledge the dangers of uncontrolled waste burning and take decisive action. This includes:

• Extinguishing existing fires.
• Implementing preventative measures.
• Ensuring the post-cleanup of waste fire sites and illegal dumps.
• Actively enforcing regulations and issuing stern fines for illegal dumping and arson.

This incident underscores the vital role that concerned citizens play in safeguarding their community. If Kimberley residents had not reported this matter to The Kimberley Prospector and if residents don’t continue to keep a watchful eye on issues like these, it would have gone unreported.

The reality is that Kimberley continues to burn, and illegal dump sites continue to grow and burn all over the city, without any meaningful preventative measures to protect citizens’ health and well-being.

Kimberley is Burning on Facebook.