Illegal dumpers threaten JMPD
ALEXANDRA - The Region E's Joburg Metro Police Department [JMPD] has thanked the public for its assistance against rampant illegal dumping.
The Region E’s Joburg Metro Police Department recently thanked the public for its assistance in the bid to halt rampant illegal dumping.
Chief superintendent of Marlboro Police Station, Ignus Jona, said open spaces in Marlboro and Setswetla Informal Settlement were the most problematic areas for illegal dumping.
“But with the public reporting the dumpers, who now opt to dump at night or at dawn to avoid detection, we are able to apprehend them, some [have been caught] red-handed,” Jona said.
“Some of them even risk driving in their trucks with no lights
He said that, unfortunately, some residents connived with the dumpers for financial gain. “This by allocating dumping sites, especially along the Jukskei River in the Setwetla Informal Settlement, where they charged the dumpers R50 per one-ton load of rubble and other waste.”
A driver, whose truck was impounded due to dumping, confirmed this arrangement and gave the names of two site distributors who charge dumping fees.
Jona stressed that the implicated people were committing a crime as the land was council’s and not zoned for dumping.
“All dumping business should be done at allocated sites, and those in this business should… possess dumping operating cards to enable them entry into the sites.”
Jona urged the public to assist Metro police with anti-dumping solutions through ward forums and committee meetings. He added that despite Metro police attempting to assist dumpers, they had shunned council’s proposal to provide them with nets to cover the trucks to avoid rubble spilling onto the roads and endangering other motorists and pedestrians.
Metro police officer Matshidiso Mputle said some of the apprehended dumpers were also aggressive. “They insult and fight with us, others flee in their trucks when stopped by traffic officers, others avoid their trucks being impounded and driven to a police station by deflating tyres, and some run away with the vehicle keys with the hope to return when police have left.”
Mputle added that some brazen drivers try to drive their impounded trucks away from the police station when they think the officers are not watching. “Others are caught intentionally without driver’s licences or documents to avoid revealing their identity, legal status and possible previous convictions they may be wanted for.”
She appealed to the public to inform Metro police about those who allocate dumping sites at Setswetla and those who dump illegally.
Details: 011 321 6354.
