Residents are strongly warned not to dump illegally and, if they are caught doing so, they will face legal implications.
This comes after the deputy chairperson of the Midrand Community Policing Forum (CPF), Taki Michalakis, a security company and Metro police caught a truck driver dumping on corner Main and MacGillivray roads in Glenferness.
“We were alerted to the call that there was dumping happening on those roads. We realised that it was not the first time that the same truck was found dumping there, as they were found dumping there last December as well,” Michalakis said.
He added that the security company, TRSS, was quick to respond and CPF attended shortly after.
“An eight ton dump truck was intercepted on the scene. The driver claimed innocence; that he was just a driver following orders. The developer who hired two trucks told them where to pick up material and where to drop it off,” Michalakis said.
“At the time of the incident, the trucks had already been operating for two days. The illegal dumping by two eight-ton tipper trucks over even a short period of time can cause immeasurable landscape and environmental damages.”
He explained that they then called the developer who also came to the scene. Metro police and officials from the Leeuwkop Prison – who are said to be responsible for the ground on which the dumping took place – also arrived on the scene.
“The suspects and the trucks were detained by the Metro police as they were then taken to Metro Police Diepsloot Department for further processing,” he said.
“We would like to thank the Metro police who arrived very promptly to deal with this matter. Other good performers in this incident where prompt action resulted in a good success were TRSS security guards and the CPF. Good teamwork again.”
Michalakis urged residents to:
- Remember that they could be complicit in illegal dumping if they don’t take reasonable steps to mitigate it
- Hire only reputable companies to transport and dispose of material
- Where practical, withhold a portion of the fees and only pay this over on the presentation of a receipt from a licenced facility for the disposed material
- Report bad performers on their social media network to discourage others from using unscrupulous contractors and transporters
- Report dumpers on the city-provided hotlines with the appropriate evidence
- Report the incidents to your local security company and CPF representatives.
Have you witnessed an illegal dumping incident? If so, what did you do? Share your views on the Fourways Review Facebook page.
Related links:
Three men from Tembisa apprehended for illegal dumping at Leeuwkop Prison
