EMPD Brakpan precinct officers, Land Invasion Unit officers and First Responder Unit officers, in conjunction with SAPS and other relevant departments, have returned to the Plastic City informal settlement today (Thursday) to continue with a large-scale demolition operation.

The operation started on Tuesday and will continue for the next few days. There are reports that 80% of the illegal structures have been demolished. This has been done with the use of TLBs (tractor-loader-backhoes).

According to the EMPD, during the operation, illegal miners used burning tyres to retaliate against law enforcement officers, and there was an attempt to set police vehicles alight and prevent authorities from accessing Plastic City.

The EMPD stated they will not back down or be threatened by those involved in criminal activities as this undermines the integrity of the law and public safety.

ALSO CHECK: Road through Plastic City closed, motorists forced to detour

CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told the Brakpan Herald that the main reason for the EMPD-led operation is to demolish the illegal structures and remove the illegal traders from Plastic City.

When asked if there had been any incidents of violence, protest or unrest from settlement residents, Dlamini disclosed there was some kind of resistance, but the EMPD and other stakeholders, including the SAPS and private security companies, managed to keep the situation under control.

The Herald also asked if the smoke observed in the settlement was from a controlled activity, such as the burning of debris, or from another fire-related incident.

“We cannot confirm this as sporadic fires were started by some residents in the area in an effort to prevent the EMPD from moving and evicting them,” said Dlamini.

ALSO CHECK: WATCH: Major demolition underway in Plastic City