MIDDELBURG — Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been named the province’s cleanest municipality at the National Waste Kgoro Awards held in Bloemfontein.
The municipality also walked away with a provincial award for its Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP), reinforcing its position as a leader in environmental management.
Municipal authorities announced the achievement during a media briefing at the municipal headquarters on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Acting Municipal Manager Dr Elizabeth Tshabalala unpacked the double achievement during the briefing, crediting consistent community partnerships and staff dedication for the recognition.
“This is not just a win for the municipality, but for every resident who separates waste at home, every street sweeper and every business that complies with our bylaws,” Tshabalala said. “Cleanliness is a collective effort, and the results speak for themselves.”
She said the IWMP award specifically recognises the municipality’s long-term strategy to reduce landfill use, boost recycling and manage waste streams across Middelburg, Mhluzi, Hendrina and surrounding areas.
“We adopted an integrated waste management plan, which is a strategy that outlines how we deal with waste management in our area. We are looking at waste from the source, recycling programmes and ensuring that not all waste ends up in landfill,” she said.
“We have minimisation programmes and transfer stations across the municipality. Steve Tshwete is one of the municipalities with a significant number of transfer stations, allowing members of the public to dispose of waste at designated sites. We are encouraging the community to participate,” she said.
“We are also reporting on the tonnages of waste diverted from landfill sites. By doing so, we are prolonging the lifespan of these facilities. Not all waste should be dumped.”
Meanwhile, Director of Solid Waste and Environmental Management Erald Nkabinde outlined steps to protect major new investments in waste infrastructure.
Nkabinde said equipment valued at nearly R22 million will soon be installed at the main landfill site and at some waste transfer stations across the municipality. The new systems are expected to improve sorting, compaction and processing capacity.
“With that level of investment, we cannot afford vandalism or theft to set us back,” Nkabinde said. “We are enhancing security measures at all our facilities to safeguard this equipment, including improved fencing, CCTV and closer cooperation with law enforcement and community patrollers.”
He added that the upgrades form part of the IWMP rollout and will help the municipality divert more waste from landfills while creating jobs in the recycling value chain.
The provincial cleanest municipality title is awarded annually by Mpumalanga’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs following assessments of litter control, landfill compliance, illegal dumping management and public education campaigns.
The municipality previously won the Provincial Cleanest Town Champions in 2002 and 2006, including a third-place national finish in 2006. It also won the Mpumalanga Greenest Municipality Champions in 2013/14, 2016/17 and 2018.
Dr Tshabalala said the municipality would not “rest on its laurels” and urged residents to continue reporting illegal dumping and to use transfer stations correctly.
“The award is motivation to do more. A clean town attracts investment, protects health and shows pride in our community,” she said.
