Ministry of Local Government Responds to Ts’osane Dump Site Fire

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police is actively working to relocate the Ts’osane dump site to Ts’oeneng, following a fire outbreak over the weekend. Minister Lebona Lephema addressed the situation in the National Assembly on Monday, urging residents to cooperate with the Ministry in addressing the incident.

The fire at Ts’osane occurred in the early hours of September 7. Minister Lephema said the Ministry had previously conducted study tours to Zimbabwe and Korea to examine best practices in waste management. During the Zimbabwe visit, officials met with a waste management company that has since dispatched engineers to inspect both the Ts’osane and Ts’oeneng sites.

“The company handed over a report in February this year, and Maseru City Council has appointed a consultant who will oversee the closure of the dump sites,” Minister Lephema stated.

The Disaster Management Authority and Ministry of Health have been informed of the current situation. Masks have been distributed to residents in the affected areas to reduce health risks from smoke and debris.

Minister Lephema emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the Ministry and the community. He assured residents that efforts to safely relocate the dump site are ongoing, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future and improve waste management in Maseru.

The Ministry calls on residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines while authorities implement measures to secure the area and finalize relocation plans.