Following recent stories published in the RECORD about the R59 recyclers, the EMPD responded to the matter.
This follows their visit to the stretch of land near the R59 where EMPD confiscated the recyclers’ material which they had supposedly gathered for months.
In a statement, EMPD spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng said after being in office for three years in 2018, he arranged for a joint operation with the Freeway Unit.
“Unfortunately, it did not materialise, We visited the place with the ward councillors late in 2019. An operation was eminent and we were waiting on other role players. We acted and the newspaper was informed after the fact,” he said.
He said the occupants were found to have put up illegal structures that were without consent of Council, making them illegal occupants.
Comparable to a homeless man sleeping underneath a tree, he stated this was equal to land invasion and could not be condoned.
“There was no order given. We had a site visit with the ward councillor and customer relations management. We also had other role players, as residents of Alberton were complaining about the state of that open field,” he said.
Brackendowns SAPS spokesperson Const Kamogelo Baloyi previously told the RECORD the station was not aware of an increase in crime linked to the recyclers staying in the area.
By-laws shared by EMPD Alberton precinct commander
• Any building material or any matter or thing that may interfere with the cleanliness of such street or cause annoyance, danger or accident to persons, animals, vehicles or other traffic using such street without causing the same to be immediately removed from such street.
• In the event of his failing to do so, Council may by its servants remove the same and in addition to any penalty for the breach of this section, recover from him the expenses of such removal in the same manner as any penalties for breaches of the Council’s by-laws are recoverable.
• No person shall urinate or defecate in any street or public place.
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