Domestic waste disposal in a small urban wetland area by Ga-Makanye Community, Limpopo Province, South Africa

In spite of their positive role, wetland ecosystems are under intense human pressure that results in their degradation and thus their ability to provide vital functions. The semi-urban community of Ga-Makanye in the Limpopo Province of South Africa is situated adjacent to a small wetland ecosystem. Because this community is poorly serviced in municipal functions such as personal and domestic waste removal, it implies the wetland will be vulnerable to pollution. Thus, an investigation was conducted via an interview schedule during 2018 in this community to determine the effects of discarded litter on the wetland ecosystem as well as perceptions of adjacent residents towards this small urban wetland. Results indicated that of the 56 households surveyed 66% dispose their household waste near or in the wetland. Males under the age of 20 accounted for 60% of this litter. Nearly 60% of respondents thought that wetlands are not important from an ecological or ecosystem service point of view. Thus, it is not surprising that 66% of residents polled indicated that they intentionally target the wetland area for waste disposal with the intent of filling it up to create a parkland. Only 34% of residents indicated they recycle and reuse some of the waste they generate. It is concluded that lower to middle-income communities such as Ga-Makanye pose a significantly larger threat to their surrounding environment due to large amounts of waste generated and a throw-away mentality, than for example, a lower socio-economic status community, who tend to re-use and recycle more.