MUSINA - The town, which is fast earning the reputation as the garden town of the Limpopo Province, at present finds itself in the midst of an embarrassing problem with flies.

Residents are complaining about the discomfort of an alarming increase in flies, which cause a nuisance and a health hazard.

The nuisance insects also seem to interfere with the thriving business in the central business district - especially eating-houses. "Their mere presence is extremely effective in destroying the appetite," complained the owner of a prominent bakery in town.

The sharp increase in the fly population is partly blamed on the high temperatures recently experienced in the Limpopo Valley. Some businessmen, however, point an accusing finger at the municipal refuge dump. The location of the dump has been a bone of contention ever since it was relocated from Nancefield, where it was an extremely unwelcome neighbour to the township’s sporting stadium. The regular burning of refuse on the dump also caused outrage amongst the farming community and lodge owners to the northwest of the town.

The present site, slightly to the southwest of the town, came under fire because of its close proximity to residential areas and to the central business district.

The present problem seems to be aggravated by a lack of proper management. One businessman complained that freshly dumped refuse is left open, instead of being covered immediately. The lack of equipment to do the necessary bulldozing at the site is given as a reason for this unsatisfactory situation. In response to a question why the municipality does not at least spray the open refuse with a strong insecticide, a municipal official said they did not want to jeopardize the safety of the considerable number of children searching for food and other valuables on the dumping site