A man has been fined by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) for illegally dumping a truck-load of rubble at the park opposite the Victory Park Shopping Centre after being caught red handed.
Bernard Smith said that he had seen a truck pull up to the side of the park and put its hazards on. “I was not close enough to be able to describe the driver but I saw him dump his load in the park and just as he was leaving, JMPD vehicle pulled up to the park, catching him red-handed,” Smith said. He added that the park seemed to be becoming a dumping ground as several other loads of rubble had been dumped at the park. “I believe that the driver of the truck was given money to legally dump the rubble but chose to keep the money and dump his load here instead,” Smith said. He added that he suspected that the people who illegally dumped their rubble at the park did so at night as they were not usually seen during the day.
Spokesperson for the JMPD, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed that the driver of the truck was fined R1 500 for illegally dumping rubble at the park. “It will cost the perpetrator R500 for illegally dumping a small amount of litter; R1000 for a bakkie load and R1 500 for dumping building rubble,” he said.
Supt Minnaar pointed out that residents should capture videos of illegal dumping as it happens and report the matter to JMPD. “We need the video to use against the perpetrator as it will count as physical evidence,” Supt Minnaar added.
He added that anyone who was caught giving JMPD officers a false name or address will be arrested. Spokesperson for Pikitup, Jacky Mashapu said that they did not charge for residents to bring in their clean rubble at the dumping sites. “We use the clean rubble in our operations and welcome it at all times. However, we do charge for the dumping of dirty rubble which is weighed and costs will depend on how much is being dumped,” Mashapu explained.
Details: JMPD, 011 375 5911
