Villagers demand closure of dumpsite after mass cattle deaths

04 April 2017 - 16:42 By Sikho Ntshobane
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Image: Gallo Images/iStockphoto

Furious residents of rural Moyeni village outside Libode are demanding the immediate closure of a municipal dumpsite‚ claiming their cattle were dying in large numbers from swallowing discarded plastic bags and medical needles.

Nestled on a portion of a vast tract of grazing land between their village and the town of Libode‚ the landfill site was opened by Nyandeni municipal bosses as far back as 2007.

Villagers told the Daily Dispatch that more than 50 cattle had died from ingesting dangerous waste materials including plastics and medical waste.

One of those who has been hit hard by the situation is Manwele Vula‚ who has lost more than 10 cows after they swallowed waste at the dumpsite.

"I am only left with one cow now.​ We want this place shut down now‚" he told the Dispatch.

Attempts to get comment from the municipality were unsuccessful at the time of writing.

- TMG Digital/DispatchLIVE

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