Illegal dumping continues to ruin Newcastle’s appearance while impacting the environment, with residents, schools, and public spaces increasingly affected. Household waste, construction debris, and garden refuse are being discarded openly, with no regard for the town, creating environmental hazards and posing significant risks to public health.
At the same time, municipal officials and residents are expressing frustration at the ongoing lack of enforcement and the disregard for municipal bylaws.
With both businesses and individuals contributing to the problem, and existing waste management solutions often misused, the issue has become a persistent challenge.
This situation underscores the urgent need for stronger municipal oversight, active community reporting, and shared responsibility to restore cleanliness, and order across Newcastle.
Across South Africa, illegal dumping is recognised as a widespread problem with serious financial, environmental, and public-health consequences. According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), litter and illegal dumping “costs municipalities a lot of money to clean up” and can lower property values in affected areas.
Moreover, the health risks linked to illegal dumping are significant. The DFFE explains that discarded materials provide “perfect places for mosquitoes to breed” and that contaminated waste may “spread diseases”. In addition, a peer-reviewed study conducted in Bloemfontein found that individuals living within five kilometres of illegal domestic-waste sites were more likely to experience respiratory symptoms, including wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
These insights underscore that illegal dumping is far more than a visual nuisance; it poses tangible risks to public health and places considerable strain on municipal resources.
Addressing the problem requires not only effective enforcement and monitoring but also active community engagement and responsible waste management practices.
Taking the above into consideration, the Barry Hertzog Park Shopping Centre has once again come under scrutiny as residents express growing anger and frustration over ongoing illegal dumping in Newcastle and disorderly behaviour in the area. Despite repeated efforts by the Newcastle Municipality to restore order, the situation has continued to deteriorate, leaving nearby community members feeling abandoned and exasperated.
Originally envisioned as a convenient local hub, the shopping centre has instead become a hotspot for unlawful behaviour and blatant disregard for municipal bylaws.
A resident living along Frikker Meyer Avenue in Barry Hertzog Park shared their frustration, stating, “Newcastle’s new dumping site is at the Barry Hertzog Park Shopping Centre. We, the close-by residents, need to suffer the consequences of the dirt blowing around and the smell of urine is unbearable.”
The resident, who requested to remain anonymous, explained that the situation has worsened due to a growing number of homeless individuals settling on the property. Makeshift shelters have appeared among the piles of refuse, further contributing to the already neglected environment and creating an escalating environmental hazard.
Night-time gatherings, continuous littering, and persistent dumping of waste have compounded the problem, with locals describing the shopping centre as both an environmental and social hazard. “What happened to the promised law enforcement in this area, as there are no municipal bylaws being followed in this area?” the resident asked.
Another community member echoed these concerns, saying, “The Newcastle Municipality will come every now and then and clean the area up, but the problem just continues, and it is absolutely disgusting that this is being allowed. The rubbish is becoming so bad, that residents can actually smell some of the waste dumped at the centre on hot days, and it does not help that people who use the area as a place to drink, continuously urinate there as well.”
The impact of illegal dumping extends beyond residents, affecting a nearby pre-primary school. Parents, teachers, and young children face daily exposure to refuse and foul odours.
“This is a total health hazard to all the poor children who have to attend the school, as well as those of us who live close by,” another resident added.
Ward 5 Councillor, Cllr Musa Ndlovu, confirmed that he is taking steps to confront the issue. “I have met with the Municipal officials in charge of the bylaws and requested that they start monitoring the area for offenders, as this cannot go on like this. Residents are proposing the skip be removed from the Barry Hertzog Shopping Centre, as many feel the skip contributes to people dumping their waste there. However, upon my inquiry to have it removed, I was notified that the skip belongs to all the shops and according to them they are paying R20 000 to the municipality.”
Acknowledging residents’ concerns, Cllr Ndlovu explained that since the skip cannot be removed, he has requested that the Municipality service it more effectively. This, he said, would ensure that it can handle the excess waste being generated while also helping to increase municipal revenue through proper waste management.
However, Barry Hertzog Park is not the only area facing challenges of this nature.
Illegal dumping has also been reported along Umvolozi Avenue in Ncandu Park, where waste is being discarded dangerously close to the Amcor Dam’s waterfall. “This is concerning for me, as this means that some of the waste being dumped is finding its way in our water sources, and this needs to be addressed, which is why we need the community to work with us to stop this type of behaviour,” stated Cllr Ndlovu.
To tackle the issue, he confirmed that the Municipality is strengthening enforcement of municipal bylaws across Newcastle. “Not only have I discussed the matter with the traffic department, we are now calling on residents to take photos of offenders and their vehicles, and submit it to me or their respective ward councillors, so we can start ensuring these individuals are fined and held accountable for their actions,” he added.
Similarly, Ward 25 Councillor, Cllr Shandy Singh, is addressing comparable challenges in Paradise and parts of Lennoxton, where illegal dumping remains a major concern.
“We are seeing people dumping garden refuse and more, and despite efforts to stop residents from dumping, there are even community members who do not live in the area, come to dump their waste off in the area, predominantly at night and leave. Myself and traffic have spoken to some of these individuals and there have been fines. However, businesses in Newcastle are among the biggest culprits of illegal dumping, and we are now encouraging residents to notify their ward councillors and municipal officials if they witness individuals dumping illegally in town, as this behaviour poses a significant health risk,” explained Cllr Singh.
In Ward 25, a large open field along Kirkland Street has become another dumping hotspot, almost completely covered in construction debris, beer bottles, and household waste.
A local resident recounted, “I was driving my son to school, when I literally saw a vehicle stop there, and just dump a large pile of construction rubble, and drive away. I do not know how the Municipality has not done something about this yet.”
Cllr Singh clarified that the land in question had recently been purchased by a private owner. “Myself and traffic inspected reports of illegal dumping on the land, and fined people. However, the owner of the land has since contacted me and explained that he was notified by the Municipality that before he constructed anything on the piece of land, he would have to lift the land up by 1.5 metres (as the site is in a flood zone). He is now allowing people to dump their rubble there so he can start lifting the piece of property and then start developing the land.”
Furthermore, municipal officials have urged residents to assist in reporting illegal dumping incidents. According to Newcastle Municipality’s bylaws, individuals caught dumping waste illegally can face fines of up to R2,500, as reported by Newcastillian News in July 2024.
While ward councillors continue to appeal to the public for assistance in combating illegal dumping in Newcastle, municipal leaders emphasise that the problem carries broader environmental and economic consequences.
Newcastle Municipality’s Development and Planning Portfolio Chairperson, Cllr Bertie Meiring, explained, “Illegal dumping also impacts investment, as it is often the first thing one sees when driving through town. This gives potential investors the idea that the Municipality does not have anything under control. It is for this reasons, we have teams out attempting to address this, as well as why we are encouraging community members to report culprits and ensuring they take photographic evidence, send it to their respective ward councillors, so that we can send it forward to traffic, who can then track the culprit down and fine them.”
Cllr Meiring added that it was disheartening to see residents dumping waste around skips provided by the Municipality. “Residents need to also take responsibility for the town, and try to keep it clean, as the Newcastle Municipality can only do so much. Even with littering, how often does one drive through Newcastle and see someone throw a KFC box or other rubbish out of their windows. It is time we work together to keep Newcastle clean,” concluded Cllr Meiring.
Consequently, the persistence of illegal dumping in Newcastle underscores the urgent need for a combined approach, where municipal enforcement, community vigilance, and individual responsibility work in tandem to protect public health, environmental quality, and the overall well-being of local communities.
Frankly, it’s time people grow up. We’re in 2025 — everyone knows that littering is wrong. Children are taught this at school, yet adults continue to toss their waste onto the ground daily. Grow up, take pride in your town, and be a better citizen.
Newcastillian News recently observed a municipal worker attempting to clean the CBD while pedestrians casually threw rubbish onto the street right in front of him. We cannot point fingers at the municipality alone when refuse continues to pile up due to residents who simply don’t care — the same residents who later flood social media to complain about potholes.
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Be sure to read, Is Newcastle ready for another summer of storms?, if you missed it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Individuals caught dumping waste illegally can face fines of up to R2,500, in accordance with Newcastle Municipality’s bylaws. Repeat offenders may face additional legal action.
Residents are encouraged to take photographs of offenders and their vehicles, then submit them to their respective ward councillors or directly to municipal traffic authorities to ensure accountability and enforcement.
While skips at commercial areas such as Barry Hertzog Park Shopping Centre may be funded collectively by businesses, the Municipality is responsible for regular servicing and ensuring that these skips can handle the waste without contributing to further illegal dumping.
Illegal dumping creates environmental hazards, including contamination of water sources and exposure to refuse, which poses significant health risks to residents and nearby schools, particularly young children.
Active participation in reporting offenders, proper disposal of household and garden waste, and maintaining public spaces responsibly are key actions residents can take to support municipal efforts and protect local communities.
