Strict implementation of dumping By-laws for the foreseeable future
"The City will remove the rubbish before the end of this week and the area will be monitored for any perpetrators," Nelspruit Post was recently told.
Joseph Ngala, the spokesman for the City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) conveyed that they are aware of the illegal dumping in the Steiltes area and that they are prioritising the cleaning thereof.
“The nearby residents are also interested in erecting a palisade,” he said.
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The newspaper received complaints from people who were annoyed by the unsightly garbage which lay on the side of Enos Mabuza Drive near Nelsville.
Ngala stated that the City’s by-laws, under Chapter 8, Section 22 (1) (a), prohibit any person from dumping any refuse at a public place, vacant stand, stream or watercourse.
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In terms of Section 31(1) of the by-laws, “any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these by-laws shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding R2 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such a fine and imprisonment,” Ngala warned.
Sanley van der Merwe, the ward councillor, stated that the community’s eyes are needed in order to compile a database of these companies who engage in illegal dumping.
“There is also a call by the executive mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, for stricter enforcement of the city’s by-laws,” she said.
“A ‘no dumping’ sign will be put up after the clean-up operation to discourage future illegal dumping. We appeal to our good citizens to continue to take pride in their surroundings and to be part of the fight against this practice,” Ngala added.
The community of Mbombela is encouraged to take and send pictures of the offenders to customercare@mbombela.gov.za, in order for fines to be issued against the offenders.
