Thousands of destitute people living on a Gauteng dump are being left by the provincial government to fend for themselves. This comes as the provincial department of local government and housing are refusing help to the residents on the landfill site, as the settlement is “not permanent”, even though it has been there for 12 years.

The desperate plight of waste pickers on landfill sites

West Rand regional head for the Department of Local Government and Housing, Lesiba Sekele, said, “No services can be offered as they do not seem to be permanently settled. According to the municipality the dump site is on privately-owned land. The council says those people are not permanently residing there, but only come to scavenge for waste to sell. They have been offered settlement in Zenzele in the West Rand, but they refuse.”