05 February 2025
For Immediate Release
Enoch Mgijima Municipality Suspends Refuse Removal Service for Frontier Hospital
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality has, with immediate effect, suspended refuse removal services for Frontier Hospital. This decision follows the discovery of medical waste during the municipal refuse collection process.
On 30 January 2025, municipal employees identified medical waste at the Lukhanji Landfill Site (Ezibeleni). The hospital was immediately notified and proceeded to extract and remove the medical waste. However, on 4 February 2025, medical waste was once again found, indicating that the issue remains unresolved.
The municipality is responsible only for collecting general waste, which is disposed of in a designated container, while medical waste is handled by a separate service provider. It appears that the two waste streams were mixed—an incident that has not occurred in years.
To safeguard municipal employees and the public, refuse removal services for Frontier Hospital will remain suspended until the issue is fully resolved. The hospital has been formally notified of this decision.
The municipality assures the community that the affected area within the landfill site has been cordoned off, with spotters on-site to guide waste disposal vehicles to the correct dumping cells. Additionally, waste pickers have been temporarily restricted from accessing the site until the medical waste is removed.
The matter is now under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the removal of medical waste will take place once SAPS concludes its inquiry.
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For more information, please contact:
Lonwabo Kowa
Manager: Communication
067 415 5822