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Civil Society Statement: National CSO strategy on Struggles against Hazardous Waste in South Africa
13 November 2025
A Call to Action: We demand action, accountability, plans, and community participation in dealing with toxic waste affecting our communities
We, the mining affected communities of the Vaal Triangle in the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, and Mpumulanga; and toxic waste affected communities of Aloes in the Eastern Cape, Dolphin Coast, KwaDukuza, Richards Bay, Cato Ridge and Shongweni in KwaZulu Natal, gathered in solidarity on the 12 and 13th of November 2025 in Midrand, South Africa to highlight the various challenges faced by our communities as a result of hazardous waste mismanagement.
Representing our communities facing the daily hazards of toxic ash and mine residue dumps, acid mine drainage, healthcare risk waste dumps, and hazardous landfills, we gathered to share experiences, build common understanding of our struggles, and seek just solutions to our shared struggle for environmental justice.
Our main aim is to secure our Section 24 Constitutional Right to an environment that is not harmful to our health and well-being, and that mandates the state to protect the environment for present and future generations.
We affirm that all people deserve protection from environmental harm, and equitable and democratic participation in decisions affecting the health and wellbeing of communities on the ground. Our collective action seeks lasting justice, accountability and the restoration of dignity for those living with the consequences of environmental degradation caused by the proliferation and inadequate management of hazardous waste.
Government is failing to protect our communities
Communities continue to suffer the direct consequences of government negligence and failure to address systemic environmental degradation linked to hazardous waste. We witness service delivery failures in all of our communities on a daily basis.
We question national, provincial and local governments’ commitment to monitoring, oversight and enforcement of the environmental pollution we experience daily. We call for the urgent prosecution of polluters; a truly open democracy; a just transition that includes the provision of basic services; and a fit-for-purpose health system that meets our needs.
The absence of a national hazardous waste management plan in South Africa enables corporations to produce hazardous waste with impunity, to evade responsibility, which worsens harm to our vulnerable populations. This negligence perpetuates injustice and deepens inequality. Toxic waste is not merely an environmental issue, it is intertwined with social justice, workers’ rights, and public health. We demand urgent intersectoral action to protect both people and the planet through accountability and reform that includes the participation of affected communities.
Demands and recommendations
After robust debate, discussion and due consideration, we the affected communities, demand that the government:
- Reaffirm its commitments to publishing and implementing a National Toxics Waste Roadmap and Action Plan.
- Make hazardous waste information publicly available in the following areas:
- Waste generation and treatment figures;
- Facility Waste Management Licenses, Atmospheric Emissions Licenses and facility audits;
- Online monitoring results and reports on closed hazardous waste sites; and
- Toxic waste and mine dump remediation plans.
- Hold corporations accountable for failure to comply with their licenses.
- Report on its actions towards ensuring Section 24 of the Constitution in line with hazardous waste management.
- Assess and take action on the remedial and rehabilitation plans of remaining hazardous waste landfills, and mine dumps in the affected communities and across the country.
- Update emergency plans for toxic landfills, slimes dams and toxic mine dumps in line with the threat of climate change to plan for and avoid future Jagersfontein-type disasters.
- Provide rehabilitation plans of priority mine dumps that are impacting public health.
- Consider the mismanagement of mineral waste as a serious environmental crime. Mining waste containing heavy metals and uranium poses severe current and future health risks to nearby communities. With hundreds of millions of tonnes of toxic waste accumulating under the watch of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, we demand accountability, remediation, and protection for affected populations.
- Engage communities and waste pickers in a meaningful process to guarantee livelihoods and integration into municipal waste plans.
Signed in Midrand, Johannesburg by all organisations and communities represented at the hazardous waste meeting on Thursday 13 November 2025
Aloes Enviroserve Landfill community, Shongweni Enviroserve Landfill community, Dolphin Coast Landfill community, Snakepark SOWETO mine dumps struggle, Lichtenburg cement kiln affected communities, Federation for a Sustainable Movement (FSE), Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), Institute For Responsible Artisanal Mining (IRAM), South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA), National Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (NAAM), Earthlife Africa (ELA), Mining and Enviro community Network (MEJCON).
