A Bhekisisa Centre for health journalism investigation has found that residents are getting sick and struggling to breathe because of the air quality around an illegal dump site in Kya Sand, north west of Johannesburg.
Residents from informal settlements and gated estates call it a “toxic crisis”. The problem is that trucks are allegedly dumping whatever they like, when they like. The waste transported by these trucks are then burnt, releasing smoke from tyres and plastic into the air.
Rucielle Gous who lives in Kya Sand told journalists that she can hardly breathe because of the air quality. She relies on a device that supplies oxygen when she sleeps at night and it’s expensive to keep the machine running.
The Kya Sand community reported its concerns to the City of Joburg four years ago but the problem persists. City officials told journalists that action has been taken against those found dumping their waste illegally and that some are being criminally investigated.
