Communities in Kya Sands, north of Johannesburg, have endured a constant veil of toxic smoke for more than a decade as an abandoned waste disposal site has transformed into a sprawling environmental and public health emergency.
What began as illegal dumping on the decommissioned Kya Sands Waste Disposal site has evolved into a network of illegal dumping grounds controlled not by municipal authorities but by organised syndicates locally known as the “Waste-Lords.” Residents report that the main landfill has been closed, yet at least ten similar sites have re-emerged in the area.
Hundreds of trucks arrive daily, unloading household waste, construction debris, tyres, toxic electronic waste, and even medical waste. After valuable materials are recycled and stripped out, the remaining waste is routinely set alight. The resulting fires burn day and night, releasing a toxic haze that blankets Kya Sands and surrounding suburbs.
Residents describe suffering from headaches, dizziness, and respiratory issues linked to the constant smoke. One former main road in the community has been turned into a toxic wasteland, where truck drivers are paid cash to offload waste directly onto the site. Open land throughout the area has similarly been converted into rubbish dumps.
Community members say the situation was not always this severe. They previously worked directly with certain companies in ways that provided financial benefits while addressing waste more responsibly. However, the syndicates have since taken over, operating what has been described as a shadow waste economy. These groups are reportedly working with credible companies to use Kya Sands as a dumping ground.
The City of Johannesburg has promised to rehabilitate parts of the sites where fires burn daily. The Gauteng Department of Environment has raised concerns and stated it is working with stakeholders to resolve the issue. Despite years of complaints and petitions from residents, official responses have been limited to promises of site visits, plans, and press statements that have not resolved the crisis on the ground.
The ongoing burning and illegal dumping continue to affect daily life in the community, exacerbating environmental neglect and public health risks. Residents continue to plead for meaningful intervention to restore healthy living conditions.
