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Sobantu Town
About Sobantu Town
The Sobantu Township has 1948 households and is predominantly black, in addition to
being one of the oldest townships in Pietermaritzburg. Sobantu falls within the
Msunduzi Local Municipality and faces key challenges such as the rise in illegal dumping
sites and hazardous gases from the New England landfill. The municipality is failing
dismally to manage this particular landfill site and as a direct consequence, the
collection services of the waste in the surrounding residential areas is delayed, causing
residents from affluent areas to dump their waste in township communities. This waste
causes environmental degradation, making the place aesthetically unpleasant and
posing increased health hazards to the people of Sobantu
The Issue
There is also industrial activities and companies near the township, such as Albany
bakery, Epol, AFGRI, Mcdonald steel, Tiger brands, Sunfoil oil company, Illovo sugar
group, Uniliver group, Royal Rice etc. that continue to pollute the Baynes Spruit river
that passes Sobantu, which remains one of the large tributaries to the Umsunduzi River. The main point of concern is how these companies have little or no efforts in curbing
their environmental impacts around this township and on these rivers, as well as the
environmental at large.
How is YMAD Helping the Sobantu Town?
YMAD started working in the Sobantu township at the end of 2019, this was a
relationship formed by forum called Siyazuza Ngemvelo which encompassed a
community-based organisation that wanted to be assisted by YMAD to open a human
rights case against the Msunduzi Local Municipality for the mismanagement of the New England landfill. Fortunately, the case was won in late 2020. Unfortunately, not much
change has been visible. Therefore, starting a recycling team and establishing a recycling
hub within the community will help reduce the unwanted illegal dumping sites and help
reduce the amount of waste that continues to enter the New England landfill that
affects the environmental health and air of neighbouring residents