Animal bones dumped in Glen Austin
GLEN AUSTIN – John Nyambi, spokesperson for the Region A Environmental Health Department, said that the illegal dumpers were fined by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department.
The Midrand Sector Crime Forum 1 has applauded community members, the Midrand SPCA, and the Region A Environmental Health Department after they swiftly apprehended illegal dumpers in Glen Austin recently.
The forum’s chairperson, Joe Burrows, said a resident contacted him to report a bad smell near their property not far from Allan Road. He said that after waiting for more information, the complainant alerted him that they saw movement and people busy dumping carcasses.
“She [the complainant] told me that her gardener saw people arriving to offload the carcasses again. I contacted all the patrollers on our group and asked them to go and stop the guys until we get the JMPD and everyone there,” he added.
He said that on arrival, they found heaps of animal skin and bones. He got hold of the Midrand SPCA who came with the Johannesburg Metro police and the environmental department officials.
Midrand SPCA’s general manager Pam Pretorius said that what raised their concerns was if the animals were being slaughtered at proper or illegal abattoirs.
“We still have to do an investigation on that. So far, the ones we have observed are illegal chicken abattoirs and we have had the health department involved in this. If we find that there are illegal abattoirs, the full might of the law will be enforced,” Pretorius said.
The spokesperson for Region A Environmental Health Department, John Nyambi, explained that measures were taken to curb such incidents. He said that JMPD issued a fine to the offender for not adhering to the waste management by-laws of the City.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed the incident.
Nyambi said that environmental health personnel also ordered the offender to remove the waste and transport it to the Mooiplaats landfill site for safe disposal or provide proof that the waste was received by a commodity and chemical trading company which he claimed to be their collector.
“This department is in process of identifying the property owner so that he/she can be notified through a statutory notice of the activity that took place.”
He concluded, “The property owner will further be instructed to ensure that such activities are prohibited.
“It is also the responsibility of the owner to secure and maintain the property in a good condition.”
Details: Midrand SPCA 011 265 9935; Sector Crime Forum 1 chairperson Joe Burrows 082 551 1580; Region A Environmental Health Department 011 761 0206.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/292383/midrand-spca-highlights-the-plight-of-animals/
