For over a decade, northern Johannesburg's Kya Sands area has been plagued by toxic smoke from illegal dumping sites turned into burning wastelands. Organized crime syndicates operate these sites, unloading vast amounts of waste daily and igniting nightly fires that release hazardous pollutants. An estimated 150,000 residents suffer health risks from the polluted air, amid failed regulatory responses.
In northern Johannesburg, the decommissioned Kya Sands Waste Disposal site has evolved into a network of at least 10 illegal dumping grounds since 2014, controlled by organized crime groups dubbed the “Waste-Lords.” Daily, hundreds of trucks deliver household, construction, toxic, electronic, and medical waste, with operators charging up to R800 per load and generating millions in revenue. After salvaging recyclables, the remainder is burned nightly to make space, producing a toxic haze laden with benzene, ethylbenzene, and other dangerous compounds that drift over Kya Sands and nearby suburbs like Fourways and Bloubosrand.
This pollution affects around 150,000 people across economic lines, from informal settlements to affluent areas. Mary Kawonga, Associate Professor at Wits School of Public Health, highlights the dangers: “Open waste burning contributes to air pollution... Short term exposures may result in acute health effects such as cough, difficulty breathing... long-term exposure... results in severe health conditions including chronic lung diseases, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, heart disease, cancers and a higher risk of premature death.” She notes that PM2.5 particles from such burning cause an estimated 270,000 global deaths annually.
Despite repeated complaints, authorities including Pikitup, the City of Johannesburg, and police have offered little beyond 2021 inspections and a 2022 strategic plan, with no tangible changes. In August 2024, the Kya Sands Burning Wasteland Community Forum won a high court order for air-quality testing, but the City missed deadlines, prompting further lawsuits against 12 entities. Independent tests affirm the air's unsafety.
The community seeks a joint government task force, site closures, law enforcement, and new legal waste facilities to address this neglect-driven crisis.