Only 8% \u2013 or one out of the 11 landfill sites and transfer stations audited in Limpopo this year as part of AfriForum\u2019s annual landfill audit \u2013 meet the minimum requirements for responsible waste management. The site in Musina improved its compliance score by 310%; having achieved a score of only 20% in 2023, it was top performing site in the province this year, and the only one to pass the audit, with a compliance score of 82%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hennie Bekker, AfriForum\u2019s Regional Head for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, notes that this improvement demonstrates that success is attainable, provided that efforts are purposeful and consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AfriForum\u2019s landfill audit report further indicates that sites in Limpopo achieved an average compliance score of only 51% this year. While this is slightly lower than the 55% recorded in the Eastern Cape, it is significantly better than two of Limpopo\u2019s neighbouring provinces, which managed to scrape together compliance scores of only 40% (North West) and 42% (Mpumalanga). The Western Cape performed best this year with an average compliance score of 66%, while Gauteng followed closely behind with 64%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, AfriForum audited 132 landfill sites and transfer stations across all nine provinces; however, only 30 sites (or 23% of the total) met at least 80% of the audit requirements. This indicates that, on average, approximately eight out of every ten sites nationwide exhibit serious shortcomings regarding infrastructure, operational management, or compliance with basic requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to AfriForum\u2019s recently released landfill audit report, sites within the Modimolle-Mookgopong Local Municipality performed particularly poorly. The two sites assessed in Mookgopong (Naboomspruit) and Modimolle (Nylstroom) performed the worst in the province, achieving a mere 4% and 2%, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 11 waste disposal sites audited in Limpopo, the following five sites failed to even reach a compliance score of 50% (the compliance score is indicated in brackets):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the province\u2019s sites performed somewhat better this year than in previous years, Bekker maintains that the decay, deterioration, and failure of the province\u2019s waste sites remain evident and are by no means commendable. \u201cThe improvement in the province\u2019s average compliance score is primarily the result of better performance at various sites; however, this has not yet led to an increase in the number of sites that managed to pass the audit,\u201d explains Bekker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year, only one site in Limpopo (the Tzaneen landfill site) met the audit\u2019s minimum requirements. However, this site was unable to build on its 2025 performance, achieving a compliance score of only 70% this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AfriForum submitted its report to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in Pretoria earlier this month. In the meantime, the civil rights organisation will continue to monitor municipal landfill sites annually and engage with authorities, industry stakeholders, and communities regarding practical solutions for the country\u2019s waste management challenges. The organisation also encourages communities to become actively involved in responsible waste management, recycling, and local initiatives that reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n