Midrand police confirm probing felled trees in Midrand

Midrand Police spokesperson Constable Eliot Mabulane has confirmed that a case of contravening the National Forests Act 84 of 1998 was being probed by the authorities.

He said the case was opened on November 2 by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) but no arrests have been made with regards to the felled trees investigation.

“We haven’t found anything as yet. Meaning no one has been arrested in connection with the case. We would like to urge our residents to adhere to the municipal by-laws in the City. At the moment, the police are still investigating the case and once the probe gets to where the perpetrators are known and found, a warrant of arrest will be issued and the arrest will be executed,” said Mabulane.

In the article Resident infuriated over felled trees, [Week ending 18 November], Mabulane had said, from their side as the police, they had not yet registered and captured the case in their system.

This comes after a President Park resident Rod McShane had contacted the Midrand Reporter about the indigenous trees being illegally felled between R101 (Old Pretoria Main Road) and Le Roux Avenue.

The paper then contacted JCPZ’s Region A regional manager Joseph Ndou, who said they were aware of the removal of three established trees.
Ndou said they had commenced the process of assessing the loss and identifying the perpetrators. “This is to protect the City’s ageing tree canopy which is under threat due to growing urbanisation and densification, compounded by the challenges of diseases and inclement weather. Every tree in the City needs to be protected – now more than ever before,” said Ndou.

Related article: 

City Parks and Zoo to investigate three illegally felled trees in Midrand