, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
Part 1: Geographic Context and Identity Verification
Student No: [Insert number here]
Student Name: [Insert name here]
Title: The Environmental and Health
Crisis of Illegal Dumping in
Umkumbaan, Durban
The environmental issue under
investigation is illegal dumping in
Umkumbaan, a residential area south of
Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. Durban is South Africa's
third-largest city, with a population of
approximately 3.3 million people
(Statistics South Africa, 2022). The
city experiences a humid subtropical climate, with average summer temperatures of 24°C and winter
averages of 17°C, receiving an annual rainfall of approximately 1,009mm (South African Weather
Service, 2023).
Umkumbaan is a suburban area characterised by residential developments interspersed with
undeveloped municipal land. The area falls within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality ward
and has been affected by illegal dumping activities for several years, with documented incidents
dating back to before 2022 (Waste and Environmental Services, 2021). The dominant economic
activities in the broader Durban region include manufacturing, shipping and logistics through the
Port of Durban, tourism, and petrochemical industries (eThekwini Municipality, 2023).
The dumping site, accessed via Sunderland Road on land understood to be owned by the
municipality, has become a significant environmental concern affecting surrounding communities
including Ridgeview, Manor Gardens, Glenwood, Seaview, and Bellair (GroundTruth, 2024).
Part 1: Geographic Context and Identity Verification
Student No: [Insert number here]
Student Name: [Insert name here]
Title: The Environmental and Health
Crisis of Illegal Dumping in
Umkumbaan, Durban
The environmental issue under
investigation is illegal dumping in
Umkumbaan, a residential area south of
Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. Durban is South Africa's
third-largest city, with a population of
approximately 3.3 million people
(Statistics South Africa, 2022). The
city experiences a humid subtropical climate, with average summer temperatures of 24°C and winter
averages of 17°C, receiving an annual rainfall of approximately 1,009mm (South African Weather
Service, 2023).
Umkumbaan is a suburban area characterised by residential developments interspersed with
undeveloped municipal land. The area falls within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality ward
and has been affected by illegal dumping activities for several years, with documented incidents
dating back to before 2022 (Waste and Environmental Services, 2021). The dominant economic
activities in the broader Durban region include manufacturing, shipping and logistics through the
Port of Durban, tourism, and petrochemical industries (eThekwini Municipality, 2023).
The dumping site, accessed via Sunderland Road on land understood to be owned by the
municipality, has become a significant environmental concern affecting surrounding communities
including Ridgeview, Manor Gardens, Glenwood, Seaview, and Bellair (GroundTruth, 2024).
