KANANA informal settlement residents have accused East London’s Elzea Snacks manufacturer of dumping waste in their Potdam neighbourhood.
The waste was taken to Chizama farm on Monday .
Elzea said the food had not been dumped, but had been given to the farmer for animal feed.
It was left on the ground by accident when a truck carrying it could not cross a bridge.
Residents were concerned children could find the spoilt snacks, and that eating it could make them sick .
Last year children got ill after eating expired sweets from Buffalo City Metro’s Berlin dump site.
Although the waste was on the farmer’s land some snacks had reportedly been stolen to sell to the community.
“Some people have already stolen some packets of chips and are selling them in our community and this affects children the most,” said Ntombentsha Phakamile.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday, close to the Berlin dump site, workers were busy ferrying the waste to the farm. Various packets of snacks lay on the ground. Many had expired but some had not.
Farm workers said the waste was used to feed cattle. “We can’t help it if people steal from here. Some of this stuff has not expired and even we eat it,” said a worker.
Elzea ’s Dean Oberem said the truck taking the waste could not cross a bridge on the farm and the farmer had asked for the food to be left there, saying he would send his workers to fetch it .
“I will call the farmer and tell him he needs to remove the stuff,” Oberem added.
“These people are only making matters worse in our community because anybody can get to those snacks. Our children are always sick from stomach bugs,” said Mzoli Mati.
“The fact these snacks are thrown away is proof they should not be given to people.”
The farmer was not available for comment but Oberem said: “It was an accident.
“As from now if the farmer can’t get the truck to his farm he won’t get the waste because we are actually very strict about this.” —
Residents concerned about waste snacks
The waste was taken to Chizama farm on Monday .
Elzea said the food had not been dumped, but had been given to the farmer for animal feed.
It was left on the ground by accident when a truck carrying it could not cross a bridge.
Residents were concerned children could find the spoilt snacks, and that eating it could make them sick .
Last year children got ill after eating expired sweets from Buffalo City Metro’s Berlin dump site.
Although the waste was on the farmer’s land some snacks had reportedly been stolen to sell to the community.
“Some people have already stolen some packets of chips and are selling them in our community and this affects children the most,” said Ntombentsha Phakamile.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday, close to the Berlin dump site, workers were busy ferrying the waste to the farm. Various packets of snacks lay on the ground. Many had expired but some had not.
Farm workers said the waste was used to feed cattle. “We can’t help it if people steal from here. Some of this stuff has not expired and even we eat it,” said a worker.
Elzea ’s Dean Oberem said the truck taking the waste could not cross a bridge on the farm and the farmer had asked for the food to be left there, saying he would send his workers to fetch it .
“I will call the farmer and tell him he needs to remove the stuff,” Oberem added.
“These people are only making matters worse in our community because anybody can get to those snacks. Our children are always sick from stomach bugs,” said Mzoli Mati.
“The fact these snacks are thrown away is proof they should not be given to people.”
The farmer was not available for comment but Oberem said: “It was an accident.
“As from now if the farmer can’t get the truck to his farm he won’t get the waste because we are actually very strict about this.” —
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