JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The escalating Lombardy illegal dumping crisis has pushed residents of Ward 81 to their breaking point, prompting urgent calls for municipal intervention. What was once designated as a community sports ground has devolved into a hazardous waste site, bringing severe health risks, choking smoke, and environmental degradation to the forefront of local concerns.
Residents of Lombardy West report that the stench and pollution from the site negatively impact their daily lives and physical well-being. The illegal dumping ground, located near the decommissioned Marlboro depot, has become a primary destination for trucks offloading rubble and general waste. The situation has drastically worsened following a Pikitup waste collection strike, which created a massive backlog and prompted even more trucks to utilize the illicit site.
Locals describe waking up to the sound of trucks and having to wear protective masks just to breathe safely. The thick smoke in the air forces residents to keep their windows closed and prevents them from hanging laundry outside, raising severe health concerns for the community’s children and elderly population who are forced to inhale the polluted air daily.
The crisis is further complicated by allegations of organized crime and corruption. Community members claim that “waste landlords” or a “waste mafia” are operating in the area, with reports of individuals accepting bribes from truck drivers to allow illegal offloading. Despite lodging continuous complaints since 2021 with the Public Protector, the City of Johannesburg, JMPD, and Pikitup, residents say their pleas for basic service delivery and safety have fallen on deaf ears.
The environmental fallout extends far beyond the dumping site, severely impacting the nearby Jukskei River. During the recent waste collection strike, frustrated residents and illegal dumpers reportedly threw household waste, mattresses, and plastic bags from a bridge directly into the water. The river, which flows from Ellis Park through Bedfordview and Edenvale before emptying into the Hartbeespoort Dam, is vital for local biodiversity.
Paul Maluleke, a spokesperson for the Alexandra Water Warriors and a member of the Jukskei River Catchment Forum, highlighted the immense challenges faced by volunteer cleanup teams. “We are working tirelessly to remove the waste, but it seems like we are working backwards,” Maluleke explained. He noted that while general household waste is somewhat manageable, the upstream dumping of chemicals, heavy rubble, tree logs, and tires makes cleanup incredibly difficult and dangerous.
According to Maluleke, the organization tests the river’s water quality weekly, yet they see no improvement. He pointed to a severe lack of law enforcement at the illegal dumping sites as a major hurdle, echoing community suspicions of corruption. “We are requesting that the government implement strict bylaws and come on board,” Maluleke urged, appealing to the broader catchment forum to help protect the river as a crucial heritage and biodiversity site.
As the local government elections draw near, the political response to the crisis remains notably absent. Ward 81 is currently a Democratic Alliance (DA) run ward. However, attempts to reach local DA representatives for comment were unsuccessful due to the party’s recent manifesto launch events. Similarly, the City of Johannesburg and the mayoral office were unavailable to address the long-standing grievances of Lombardy’s residents, leaving the community to navigate the severe health and environmental fallout on their own.
