Member of Executive Committee (MEC) for Environment Ewan Botha led a multi-agency environmental compliance and enforcement blitz across Kya Sands, Lion Park, and Cosmo City, as part of ongoing efforts to intensify the fight against environmental crime and illegal waste activities.

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The operation was conducted in collaboration with Kenny Kunene, MMC for roads and transport in the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality, as well as the department of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, the office of the premier of Gauteng, the South African Police Service, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, the Gauteng department of community safety, Pikitup, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, and other municipal enforcement teams.

The operation yielded several enforcement outcomes across the targeted areas. In Kya Sands, there were six arrests of undocumented foreign nationals, 92 concrete manhole covers were seized, believed to be linked to stolen public infrastructure, contributing to dangerous open manholes and infrastructure damage, three arrests, including an arrest for the illegal operation of waste management activities without approval, were made, along with two further arrests for illegal dumping of waste in an area not designated or authorised for waste disposal. Two trucks were also impounded for their involvement in illegal waste activities.

In Cosmo City, an arrest for illegal dumping of waste was made and a truck was impounded. In addition, two fines of R5 000 each were issued for the transportation of waste without the necessary permit, bringing the total administrative penalties issued during the operation to R10 000.

The law enforcement teams also conducted compliance visits across taxi ranks, parks, open spaces, malls, shopping centres, and garages to ensure broader safety and compliance in the region.

During the final debrief of the operation, Botha issued clear directives to strengthen ongoing enforcement and ensure sustained impact in the affected communities.

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These directives include:

• Urgent enforcement action against the illegal waste facilities identified during the operation,
• Regular roadblocks in identified hotspots to intercept vehicles transporting waste into illegal dumping areas,
• The establishment of a multi-agency rapid response team, accessible to residents, to ensure immediate intervention when illegal dumping or waste burning begins, and
• The scheduling of weekly enforcement operations to sustain pressure on environmental criminals.

Botha emphasised that while the expectations placed on stakeholders are significant, the urgency of the situation requires decisive action. “I know that I am placing significant pressure and expectations on all stakeholders involved, but more than 80 000 residents are looking to us to show up, lead, and deliver. We cannot allow environmental crime to continue destroying communities and endangering residents.”

The Gauteng department of environment will continue working with law enforcement agencies and municipal partners to intensify environmental compliance operations, and ensure that those responsible for environmental crimes are held accountable.

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