Follow-up: Shooting at dump site halts services
Following a shooting allegedly involving illegal miners, the dump site has been temporarily shut down.
The CoE has confirmed the Weltevreden Landfill Site is temporarily closed following the shooting at the dump site on July 8.
As reported in last week’s Brakpan Herald, chaos erupted that Tuesday afternoon when armed men stormed the dump site, opened fire, and then made their way to the Plastic City informal settlement.
A 36-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds to both upper thighs, and a case of attempted murder is under investigation by Brakpan SAPS.
“The site operator reported the incident on July 8 at approximately 16:30. The report indicated that the shooting involved individuals believed to be illegal miners on the site, and personnel were caught in the crossfire,” said CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.
“Both the site personnel and city officials evacuated the area safely, however, those involved were traumatised by the incident.”
When asked what steps have been taken to investigate the shooting and ensure the safety of workers and residents near the landfill site, Dlamini stated the city has escalated the matter to SAPS and EMPD to assist with the investigation.
“The city has also requested increased visibility of law enforcement officers on site and frequent patrolling to ensure the safety of site users and personnel.
“The shootout between factions of illegal miners on site has resulted in the temporary closure of the landfill, disrupting operational activities.
“This interruption negatively impacts service delivery, leading to waste not being collected as scheduled, increased costs due to longer travel distances for collection trucks, and a loss of revenue.”
Questions posed by the Herald pertaining to allegations that illegal miners in the area are hampering other service delivery efforts, and the municipality’s official position on the existence and legality of the Plastic City informal settlement, went unanswered.
With regards to other service delivery efforts being obstructed, Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius previously told the Herald there is a trench along Hospital Road in Brakpan North that needs to be opened to prevent flooding and allow for pothole repairs.
He claims that intimidation from the miners has made it impossible for crews to operate safely. While the municipality is silent on these issues, residents in the vicinity live in constant fear and frustration.
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