Complaints included the crime rate in Sun City, as well as alleged service delivery issues. Fed up residents demand change Sun City residents during their peacful demonstration of dissatisfaction. Sun City residents during their peacful demonstration of dissatisfaction. 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 14 July 2020 Complaints included the crime rate in Sun City, as well as alleged service delivery issues. Irate residents from Sun City Extension 33 displayed their dismay at the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court yesterday, citing that they’re awaiting documents from the court. Complaints included the crime rate in Sun City, as well as alleged service delivery issues. Although the protestors were determined ti be noticed, the demonstration was peaceful and organized. < Previous Article Next Article >

‘n Legende lê sy voorskoot neer Wyle André van Staden. Wyle André van Staden. 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 2 Junie 2020 André wat baie lief was vir kos maak, saam met sy vriende te kuier en ook nuwe mense te ontmoet, gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap. Hy het altyd ‘n glimlag op sy gesig gehad, en het gereed gestaan om vinnig ietsie te drink, en om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop. André van Staden, ‘n baie bekende in Ermelo, is onlangs skielik oorlede. André wat baie lief was vir kos maak, saam met sy vriende te kuier en ook nuwe mense te ontmoet, gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap. Hy het altyd ‘n glimlag op sy gesig gehad, en het gereed gestaan om vinnig ietsie te drink, en om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop. Hy het gelewe om vir mense kos te maak, en hy het seker gemaak dat hy altyd iets nuuts probeer. André gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap, en laat ‘n reuse leemte. Hy word oorleef deur sy moeder, Kyle, sy personeel by Makou, asook al sy vriende en vriendinne van die gemeenskap. “Rus sag André, ons mis jou reeds baie.” < Previous Article Next Article >

"Ons bedank graag die volgende borge: ETG, Pannar, Oosvaal Landbou, MBFi, Villa, Omnia, Monsanto, FPS Bulk en Agri Benodighede." Ligbron OBBG weeg en wen-mielieprojek 1/10 Share SM HATTINGH 7 September 2021 "Ons bedank graag die volgende borge: ETG, Pannar, Oosvaal Landbou, MBFi, Villa, Omnia, Monsanto, FPS Bulk en Agri Benodighede." Toe die Ligbron OBBG Weeg en Wen-Mielieprojek op 8 Oktober 2020 geloods is deur Erhard Prinsloo, het die organiseerders min besef dat die uitkoms hul wildste drome sou oortref. Verskeie boere van die omgewing het deelgeneem aan hierdie suksesvolle projek, en die Ligbron OBBG spreek graag hul opregte dank uit aan die Ermelo- gemeenskap vir hul getroue ondersteuning. Die gala-aand is aangebied op Donderdag, 2 September, by die stylvolle Kralinbergh Estate, met die bekende gaskunstenaars, Nadine Blom en Andrew Roos. Ermelo se eie musiek kenner het luister verleen aan die aand. Die boere was dit eens dat hierdie seisoen ‘n buiten gewoon hoë opbrengs gelewer het, en onder die professionele leiding van mnr. Neels van der Schyff en mnr. Carl Jacobsz van Omnia, is die wenners bepaal en aangekondig. Dit het ‘n antwoord op die jaar se wonder en spekuleer gebring , daar is geweeg… en wie het gewen? Die vier boere met die hoogste opbrengs per hektaar is beloon. Die eerste en tweede plek is los geboer deur mnre. Christiaan Paul en Ruan Paul van KRC Farming. Hulle ontvang gesamentlik prysgeld ter waarde van R250 000, geskenk deur Ligbron OBBG. Mnr. Johan van Niekerk, in die derde plek, ontvang ‘n grassnyer geborg deur Agri Benodighede. Die vierde plek, beklee deur mnr. Fanus Stapelberg, ontvang Omnia presisie boerdery ontledings ter waarde van R40 000. Elkeen van die ander deelnemers het ‘n sakkie Dekalb Monsanto-saad ontvang. Die kwaliteit en sukses van so ‘n wenprojek is nie haalbaar sonder die insette van ons getroue borge nie. "Ons bedank graag die volgende borge: ETG, Pannar, Oosvaal Landbou, MBFi, Villa, Omnia, Monsanto, FPS Bulk en Agri Benodighede." < Previous Article Next Article >

PROJECT ERMELO - Mike Bolhuis to intervene as MLM falls apart 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 8 June 2021 "If a municipality fails to fulfill any of the mandates set forth by the national government, it is a crime. As simple as that." As you sit in the dark for 20 hours a day, for the fourth consecutive day, as yourself if it is acceptable. As you watch how polluted and muddy water runs from your taps, ask yourself if it is acceptable. As you hit yet another pothole, and have to replace yet another tyre on your vehicle, ask yourself if it is acceptable. As Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) simply blames your woes on the 88kVA and 11kVA being “overloaded”, the onus of appliances ruined by electrical spikes are on you as tax paying resident. As new developments are approved left and right by MLM’s apparent town planner, no foresight is given to the residents who suffer without electricity on a daily basis. While MLM claims that the electrical infrastructure is overloaded and at maximum capacity, more developments are approved by MLM on a monthly basis. While MLM claims that non-paying residents are to blame for the lack of maintenance, the municipality has set forth a mandate that consumer debt be written off under certain conditions, to the tune of nearly R600 million. Does this make sense to you? While you have to weave and bob to miss the thousands of potholes and sinkholes on the roads in Ermelo and the surrounding areas, MLM claims to have a “shoestring budget” that they receive from government. Thousands, if not millions of Rands, are wasted on half-hearted patchwork of the roads, instead of repairing the roadway as mandated. Potholes are filled with dirt and gravel, and expand exponentially as the surface deteriorates to a state of non-existence. Are you satisfied with this? As you stand in your front yard, and take a deep whiff of rank, raw sewage flowing in the streets in front of your house... Are you satisfied? As you have to drive through pools of sewage as you exit your yard, and your children have to tread carefully not to be contaminated with raw sewage, does it make you feel good? While you sit without street lights, and your residence is shrouded in darkness, are you complacent with the fact that you can be robbed blind without even knowing it? Are you content with the fact that hijackers and criminals can sit outside your yard and wait for you to open your gate, remaining unseen due to the street lights that have been out of commission for over ten years? Are you content with the fact that your tax money is wasted on fruitless expenditures by Msukaligwa Local Municipality, that you are overcharged by the municipality’s archaic billing system, that you pay penalties on payments that are not logged by the municipality, and that year after year, you are done in with bogus property taxes that are thumbsucked by municipal officials? If the answer to any of the above is no, then it your time to shine. It is time for residents to stop talking and complaining, and to take action. A group of like-minded residents, that have had it in chunks with the utter incompetence displayed by Msukaligwa Local Municipality, have approached Private Investigator, Mike Bolhuis, to assist in solving the humanitarian crisis that Ermelo is steering towards. Mr. Bolhuis has thus requested that all complaints be submitted in a categorized fashion. Speaking to Mr. Bolhuis, residents are urged to take heed of his words. “I would like to issue a friendly but serious warning to residents of Ermelo. Project Ermelo, that we are requested to assist with, can only be a success if everyone sets their differences and varied opinions aside, and sets the issue of crime as the main focus and problem. Residents of Ermelo should look past race, politics and differences in faith. We are all just human, and God has no blue-eyed boys. We request unequivocal unity from the community, that all residents and tax payers take hands and stand together, and assist us in any way necessary with our project and investigation. With Project Ermelo, we can not afford infighting between residents, where the best apples are compared to the best oranges. The main and singular focus of the community and this project should be to identify, solve and prevent crime. This trio of goals are of utmost importance. There is no place for persons who dislike one another, and each and every community member is urged to be part of the investigation, e-mail messages and WhatsApp groups. I would like to urge the community to keep all issues that are not relevant to Project Ermelo to be set aside, and that all energy should be focused on the project goal. The fact of the matter is that a crime is being committed. If a municipality fails to fulfill any of the mandates set forth by the national government, it is a crime. As simple as that. If the municipality does not maintain the infrastructure, it is a crime. A municipality can not be called a municipality, if it does not deliver a service. The solution to this problem can only be had if the community as a whole stands together, and works together. We will be the spearhead, and in this way work for the community. We appreciate any donations, no matter how big or small. When the opportunity presents itself, we visit Ermelo, we conduct the investigation, we collect audio and video evidence, and we confront the municipality. If no heed is paid by the municipality, it is escalated to a national project, complete with audio and video, and will be presented to national government.” If you have a complaint regarding electricity, sewage, road conditions, lack of service delivery, suspected corruption, financial mismanagement and more, please send each complaint in a separate e-mail, with the subject stating the category of the complaint. This way it will be easier to sort and compile a list of the issues that need attention. You may send your categorized complaint to ermeloproject@gmail.com . Please ensure that your e-mail body and complaints match the subject heading as described above. Residents who wish to make a donation, no matter how big or small, towards the compensation of service from Mr. Bolhuis, may do so by depositing funds into the slated trust account. Mr. Bolhuis has agreed to come to Ermelo and address the community as a whole to take note of all complaints right through the board. Kevin Duggan on 071 476 2028, or Lynette Hattingh on 082 542 9592 with any enquiries. The account details are as follows: PWG Attorneys, FNB Ermelo (270 344) Account Number: 52180048278. Reference: E747, please include your initials and surname afterwards. These funds will thus be regulated and tightly controlled, and will be utilized solely for the purpose of reimbursing Mr. Bolhuis and his team for their provided service. At the time of publication, more than 150 detailed and categorized complaints have been submitted by businesses and residents. From here, what the community does as a whole will affect the future of Ermelo. All residents are urged to unite in solidarity, and to take back the power which rightly belongs to them as paying consumers. < Previous Article Next Article >

“EHS wens elke betrokke Graad 8 sterkte toe vir hul tennis-reis by Hoërskool Ermelo." EHS verwelkom Graad 8-tennis spelers 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 16 March 2021 “EHS wens elke betrokke Graad 8 sterkte toe vir hul tennis-reis by Hoërskool Ermelo." Op Dinsdag, 2 Maart, het die Erries ‘n groot groep Graad 8-tennis spelers beter leer ken op die tennisbane van EHS. Hulle is hier bekend gestel aan EHS se professionele tennis afrigters, mnr.Charl Basson en mnr. Hennie Dippenaar. Die nuwe Erries was, met rede, opgewonde om hul vermoëns ten toon testel. “EHS wens elke betrokke Graad 8 sterkte toe vir hul tennis-reis by Hoërskool Ermelo. Dankie byvoorbaat aan die afrigters wat reeds hierdie spelers ondersteun, en vir die tyd wat opgeoffer word om spelers te ontwikkel.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Die tema was 'Sirkels' en leerders moes die tema op ’n kreatiewe manier interpreteer as ’n praktiese taak. Errie kuns beste in Mpumalanga Voor (v.l.n.r) staan: Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa.Agter (v.l.n.r) verskyn: Biance de Jager, Ancois van der Berg, Inge van der Walt en Me Carin van der Merwe. Voor (v.l.n.r) staan: Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa.Agter (v.l.n.r) verskyn: Biance de Jager, Ancois van der Berg, Inge van der Walt en Me Carin van der Merwe. 1/1 Share Content Supplied 30 August 2022 Die tema was 'Sirkels' en leerders moes die tema op ’n kreatiewe manier interpreteer as ’n praktiese taak. Die Erries neem die afgelope agt jaar deel aan die Mpumalanga-kunskompetisie wat deur die Departement van Onderwys geloods word. Elke jaar behaal die Erries plekke op die top 10 en selfs’n tweede of derde plek. Vanjaar het die Erries egter die kompetisie oorheers en ’n eerste, tweede en derde plek behaal, asook algehele wenners van kuns as vak in Mpumalanga. Altesaam 300 inskrywings, wat Ontwerp en Visuele kuns insluit, was die meeste inskrywings nóg vir hierdie kompetisie. Die tema was 'Sirkels' en leerders moes die tema op ’n kreatiewe manier interpreteer as ’n praktiese taak. 168 visuele kuns leerders het in die provinsie ingeskryf waarvan nege leerders Erries was. Die kunswerke is deur drie kunstenaars van Mbombela en omgewing beoordeel. Ses Erries het plekke in die top 10 plekke behaal! Almal se kunswerke word in die Mbombela kunsgalery uitgestal waar die publiek dit kan besigtig. Die top 10 plekke is behaal deur: Inge van der Walt, Bianca de Jager, Ancois van der Berg (Graad 11-leerder), Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa (Graad 12-leerders). Thobani Mbuli word as algehele wenner aangekondig, Ilandri Nel behaal ’n tweede plek en Gift Mthethwa ’n derde plek. Alle skole in Mpumalanga wat Visuele Kuns as vak aanbied, word verplig om aan dié kompetisie deel te neem en Hoërskool Ermelo is as wenner in Mpumalanga aangekondig vir die vak Visuele Kuns. Die Erries wat deel is van die top tien se werke word by die Mbombela-skou uitgestal. Hulle sal ook tydens ‘n prysuitdeling hulle kontantpryse, geborg deur die skou, ontvang. Baie geluk aan elkeen van hierdie leerders met jul pryse en uitsonderlike talent, asook aan me Carin van der Merwe wat as onderwyser die leerder lei om die sukses te kan behaal. EHS is trots op julle. - Inhoud en foto verskaf deur EHS < Previous Article Next Article >

"Die sluwe karakters wat hier rond sluip, skrik baie potensiële klante af." Besigheids eienaars sit met hand in die hare 1/6 Share GK CRONJE 15 November 2022 "Die sluwe karakters wat hier rond sluip, skrik baie potensiële klante af." Te midde van die diensleweringskwessies wat Ermelo ervaar, loop Cassim Park se inwoners goed deur. Wat eens die trots en vreugde van inwoners in hierdie area was, het Cassim Park sedertdien teruggeval tot 'n hol skaduwee van sy eertydse glorie. Strate is deurtrek met slaggate, werksterreine word onvolledig gelaat, verskeie straatligte is óf beskadig en leun gevaarlik na die pad, óf heeltemal buite werking, en vullis bemors die sypaadjies. Gras op munisipale terreinne is onversorg, en raadsgeboue, elektriese kiosks, mure en meer is bedek met graffiti en onwelvoeglike gespuitverfde beelde. Ten spyte van talle klagtes vanaf inwoners wat gerig word aan Msukaligwa Plaaslike Munisipaliteit, is daar steeds geen verligting vir besighede in Cassim Park van die onwettige storting van vullis in Tauruslaan nie. Verskeie klagtes wat deur besigheids eienaars aan Msukaligwa Plaaslike Munisipaliteit gerig is oor die toestand van hierdie gebied, val doodluiters op dowe ore. Tuinvullis, stukke glas van vermorselde televisiestelle, drankbottels, menslike ontlasting en allerlei ander vullis versuur die parkeerarea, met haweloses wat die omhulsels van kabels in die verlate gebou af smelt. “Ons sukkel om in hierdie area besigheid te doen. Die sluwe karakters wat hier rond sluip, skrik baie potensiële klante af. Die glas- en metaalskerwe is 'n resep vir pap bande, en die konstante rook van die brandende vullis, gepaard met die reuk van menslike urine en ontlasting, is genoeg om selfs die mees lojale kliënte af te skrik. Ons is aan die einde van verstand hier,” het 'n ontstelde sake-eienaar aan die Tribune gesê. Klagtes van boosdoeners en bendelede wat die lewe vir inwoners nag maak is ook aan die Tribune genoem. Dié kriminele kan snags ongesiens rondsluip, sedert ‘n minimale hoeveelheid straatligte in werkende toestand is. Al is Msukaligwa Plaaslike Munisipaliteit bewus van hierdie kwessies, verval Cassim Park ongelukkig saam met die res van Ermelo en die omliggende areas. Sien meer foto's op ons Facebook blad, Tribune Ermelo. < Previous Article Next Article >

The road conditions are further deteriorating at unfinished worksites, where MLM teams removed large sections of the tarred roadway, only to be haphazardly filled with loose soil. Rainfall exacerbates hundreds of potholes 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 7 December 2021 The road conditions are further deteriorating at unfinished worksites, where MLM teams removed large sections of the tarred roadway, only to be haphazardly filled with loose soil. The recent rainfall has highlighted the alarming amount op potholes and sinkholes that plague Ermelo’s roads, as well as the roads in Wesselton and surrounding areas. The apathetic act by Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) to fill the potholes with gravel and sand has come back to haunt the entity, as hundreds of potholes have been washed open, and in many cases, worsened by erosion and constant traffic across the soggy tar surface surround these potholes. Large sinkholes have also appeared where the thin layers of superficial tar have been washed away and trampled by traffic, eroding to such an extent that motorists often have to grit their teeth while unwittingly slamming into these deceptively deep, water filled sinkholes, causing extensive damage to their vehicles, tyres and wheel alignment. The road conditions are further deteriorating at unfinished worksites, where MLM teams removed large sections of the tarred roadway, only to be haphazardly filled with loose soil. These sites are now completely eroded and deep crevices are left as a danger to motorists. Various sites in Cassim Park have residents fuming, where the deteriorated roadways have remained ignored by MLM for over four years. < Previous Article Next Article >

With the envisaged call centre, there will be a shift supervisor, and all conversations will be recorded between the caller and the call centre agent. The municipality will be also be able to track dropped and missed call through the new call centre solution systems. We appeal to the community to bear with us while we are attending to the call centre infrastructure, and professionalizing it. Full-fledged VOIP call centre in the pipeline 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 15 September 2020 With the envisaged call centre, there will be a shift supervisor, and all conversations will be recorded between the caller and the call centre agent. The municipality will be also be able to track dropped and missed call through the new call centre solution systems. We appeal to the community to bear with us while we are attending to the call centre infrastructure, and professionalizing it. With the strain on Msukaligwa Local Municipality to provide service delivery and feedback to the public amidst financial woes, the Tribune spoke to Mr. Zwane, municipal spokesman, about issues faced by residents when reporting issues to the call centre. Complaints have been continuously flooding in regarding the innate lack of efficiency of the call centre. MLM has, however, previously stated that the call centre is not as it should be, and is rather a makeshift call centre to try and resolve complaints. MLM has, however, been working on implementing a full-fledged VOIP call centre, which will enable efficient logging, tracking and resolution of complaints. According to Mr. Zwane, the aim is to launch the call centre by 31 October 2020, but it should be noted that this a merely a projected date. The most notable complaints regarding the current makeshift call centre, are the lack of reference numbers or job tickets provided to complainants, as well as call centre operators more often than not failing to answer the telephone. “Queries from community members can be logged or reported in a variety of ways, including verbally, in which community members can make a verbal expression after the deficient act or action with respect to the service. Community members can log / report issues by telephone, fax, a letter or e-mail to the call centre, and can also send a WhatsApp voice note, video or picture to municipal call centre numbers. Residents can also fill in complaint, suggestion and compliment form available in all municipal offices. Please note that your address, contact number, details of query and account number (for account and billing queries) must be included with the complaint submitted in the box.” Mr. Zwane said. MLM is also working on an USSD code to submit complaints and queries, and the code will be made public as soon as the testing phase has been completed. “For each query, you MUST get a reference number. You may use the reference number to obtain progress feedback on outstanding queries. The municipal complaints management system will ensure that citizen complaints are resolved within set Service Level Agreement (SLA), and Municipal Service Charter.” Speaking to Mr. Zwane about the call centre operators who fail to answer calls, he stated the following: “Currently, the call centre agents report to the supervisor, who works between 7:30 to 16:15 on weekdays. With the envisaged call centre, there will be a shift supervisor, and all conversations will be recorded between the caller and the call centre agent. The municipality will be also be able to track dropped and missed call through the new call centre solution systems. We appeal to the community to bear with us while we are attending to the call centre infrastructure, and professionalizing it. The municipality is aware of the WhatsApp group and / or Telegram group that created to deal with municipal service delivery related queries.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Mpumalanga Working on Fire’s Busi Mohlala leads from the front 1/1 Share CONTENT SUPPLIED 25 August 2020 “I had blisters on both feet, and I couldn't walk for two weeks, but with encouragement from my Regional Manager, Vincent Lubisi, and WOF OHS, I kept going, became strong, and continued with the course. It was very difficult for me completing that course because after that, my husband and daughter were involved in a car accident and I couldn't cope, but with the support from WOF, fellow colleagues and friends, I continued and completed it.” Press Release - Ms Busi Mohlala is breaking boundaries, rewriting the script and changing the narrative as a crew leader in Mpumalanga Working in Fire’s Breyten team in the Highveld. In its 17 years of existence, the Working on Fire programme, funded by the Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, continues to support and promote women leadership and equality with 30 percent of their more than 5 000 firefighters being women, the highest number compared to similar firefighting fraternities worldwide. August is Women’s Month, and the theme this year is “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”, and Ms Mohlala and her counterparts continue to prosper in a male-dominated industry. She joined the WOF programme, as a firefighter, in 2010, having been recruited at the Graskop base and she worked her way through the ranks to become a SHE-rep. Her work ethic was rewarded when she was nominated to go study a Type 2 crew leader course in 2013, which did successfully, and was appointed in that position in the same year. After years as a Type 2, Ms Mohlala got the opportunity to further her career, and WOF gave the chance to study the Type 1 crew leader course, which she successfully completed. Ms Mohlala was appointed crew leader of the Breyten team, based and partnered with Msukaligwa Fire and Rescue, which is under the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. She leads a team of 19 firefighters, who conduct Integrated Fire Management (IFM) services, which include fire management planning, detection, prevention, suppression of runaway veld fires, dispatch and coordination, and community fire awareness activities. A mother to a daughter, Ms Mohlala recalls her best memories within the WOF programme being many and very memorable. “I have had many great moments in my career, however, being awarded best crew leader after completing my Type 2 crew leader course, at Kishugu Training Academy in Nelspruit, remains my favourite,” Ms Mohlala said. With success, challenges are bound to arise, and Ms Mohlala remembers how during her vigorous firefighting training for the Type 1 crew leader, she developed blisters because Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) is required to be worn at all times. “I had blisters on both feet, and I couldn't walk for two weeks, but with encouragement from my Regional Manager, Vincent Lubisi, and WOF OHS, I kept going, became strong, and continued with the course. It was very difficult for me completing that course because after that, my husband and daughter were involved in a car accident and I couldn't cope, but with the support from WOF, fellow colleagues and friends, I continued and completed it.” When asked what she enjoys the most about her job and leading a team in ‘fiery’ situations, Ms Mohlala proudly stated she loves the challenges that always arise on the fireline, and all the new things she learns about her colleagues every day. “The fitness part I love as well, because daily fitness tests keeps me healthy and WOF continues to develop its firefighters,” Ms Mohlala concluded. < Previous Article Next Article >

Hierdie bekwame afrigters het leiding aan elke span en afrigter gegee tydens wedstryde Erries skerp hokkie-vaardighede op 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 20 April 2021 Hierdie bekwame afrigters het leiding aan elke span en afrigter gegee tydens wedstryde Die Erries het die voorreg gehad om op Vrydag, 9 April en Saterdag, 10 April die Nedstar SA-kliniek onderleiding van Omari Pienaar te kon bywoon op EHS se astrobaan. Al die hokkiespanne het nuwe vaardighede en tegnieke in ge-oefen tydens die vaardigheidsessies, waar die Nedstar-afrigters moeite gedoen het met elke span. Hierdie bekwame afrigters het leiding aan elke span en afrigter gegee tydens wedstryde. Al die Erries se hokkiespanne is gereed vir die liga en sien uit om hierdie jaar weereens uitnemende hokkie te speel. < Previous Article Next Article >

The warning from MLM has been laughed off, and the refuse dumping has increased exponentially. In a sad state of affairs, it is also clear that rehabilitation or removal of the current, or previous refuse and rubble has been implemented. Continuous illegal dumping creates eyesore 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 29 September 2020 The warning from MLM has been laughed off, and the refuse dumping has increased exponentially. In a sad state of affairs, it is also clear that rehabilitation or removal of the current, or previous refuse and rubble has been implemented. It has come to the attention of the Tribune that the Chris de Villiers Street roadside, as well as the adjacent fields on both sides, are strewn with literal mounds of refuse, discarded building materials and a considerable amount of fast food containers, indicating that surrounding residents and contractors conduct regular illegal dumping activities in this area. The issue has been reported to the call centre on numerous occasions, with no response from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM). Upon enquiry in 2019, MLM issued the following response: “Illegal dumping in Msukaligwa is the problem, where community members deliberately degrade our environment through illegal dumping activities, especially rubble or building and demolition waste. Instead of using the landfill sites, community members opt for our public open spaces. To remedy the problem, the community awareness program is being rolled out to all community members. The law enforcement team from Gert Sibande is in partnership with Msukaligwa Local Municipality to deal with law breakers.” Alas, as we near the end of 2020, little effort has been put in to deal with residents and construction companies who illegally dump refuse and building material in Chris de Villiers Street. The warning from MLM has been laughed off, and the refuse dumping has increased exponentially. In a sad state of affairs, it is also clear that rehabilitation or removal of the current, or previous refuse and rubble has been implemented. Illegal dumping of refuse and other materials is a growing issue within Ermelo, as well as the surrounding areas, with residents paying no heed to the municipal by-laws, which remain unenforced. < Previous Article Next Article >