Caring for nature is evidently not on the new year’s resolutions list of builders who dump their rubble in George Lea Park.
The Sandton Chronicle has covered the story of illegal dumping for several months. Large piles of building material and patches of dead grass on the land are an indication that the problem has become severe.
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Metro police spokesperson, Edna Mamonyane said, “This is very difficult. This is done by the contractors because they do not want to pay Pikitup. This is rubble from renovations. Contractors must remember, you might think you’re avoiding a fee but at the same time you are damaging the environment of the city where we all live.”
The contractors’ actions, seemingly, are motivated by greed. Mamonyane said they invoice homeowners to lawfully dump at Pikitup and then pocket this money and dump in open spaces.
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She said many contractors dump very late in the evening or in the early hours of the morning. “They know it’s impossible to police every open space at all hours and they take advantage of this.”
Metro police have urged residents who witness illegal dumping to take pictures of the trucks’ number plates and to send images to Zed Mangaliso in the bylaws department via WhatsApp.
Details: Zed Mangaliso 082 779 1361.
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