ELECTIONS 2026 | Waste fires continue despite R150-million Kya Sands rehabilitation project

A year after Johannesburg's City announced a R150-million project to rehabilitate the decommissioned Kya Sands landfill, local residents claim that recurring waste fires and smoke from illegal dumping persistently impact their daily lives, prompting some to report breathing difficulties. Situated adjacent to a densely populated informal settlement, several middle-class residential neighborhoods, and an industrial manufacturing hub, the landfill site has fallen victim to deteriorating air quality and hazardous smoke due to waste burning.

Among those affected, 60-year-old Deborah Ball, who relocated to an estate in Craigavon in August last year, admits to coughing daily and experiencing difficulty breathing, particularly during winter. She attributes the worsening situation to the acrid smoke emanating from items like tyres, rubber, and chemicals. Ball now relies on an inhaler to manage her chest tightness.

Ward 98 councillor Davon Steenkamp acknowledges that a boundary wall is being constructed as part of the rehabilitation effort, yet trucks continue to deposit waste on adjacent private properties, setting it ablaze to make room for additional loads. Steenkamp expresses concern for residents in nearby informal settlements, who cannot afford air purifiers and must close their doors continuously due to the smoke.

He emphasizes the dangerous situation faced by residents, with illegal dumpers operating within the area, frequently armed and engaging in illicit activities.

The police forum's chairperson, Lizzy Mabena, advocates for addressing abandoned land and exploring options for the City to assume control of these properties, many of which have accumulated substantial municipal debt. She criticizes the City for failing to hold large companies accountable, alleging that some may be involved in illegal dumping, either directly or through contractual agreements with the municipality.

The Johannesburg Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) admits that the Kya Sands landfill has become a hotspot for illegal dumping and related environmental challenges since ceasing operations in 2010. MMC Jack Sekwaila indicates that measures to curb illegal dumping have been strengthened, and efforts to extinguish and prevent recurring fires are ongoing.

The department has removed around 98,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste and deployed security personnel to monitor the site. Approximately 98,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been removed, with eight local SMMEs subcontracted for plant hire and other services, and 37 community members employed on the project. Air quality monitoring systems were completed in January 2026. Despite these efforts, Deborah maintains that the environment remains far from healthy.