An illegal dumper’s pocket is over R15 000 lighter for dumping alongside Rovos Rail on Paul Kruger Street, Capital Park.
Wonderboom SAPS caught a white truck dumping building debris and litter around 17:00 on April 25.
Authorities then contacted the area waste management inspector, Johan Scholtz, who showed the dumper no mercy.
“I gave him a R5 000 fine for dumping and another R10 000 for causing an environmental health hazard. The dumping invites all sorts of rats, snakes and pollutants,” Scholtz said.
The driver didn’t even have a key to it [the truck] and was using the wiring to start it. Police came over the next morning to impound the vehicle and the suspect will also have to pay the impound fee. I can’t say for sure but I think it will be around R20 000 or more.
It’s to teach them a lesson. You can’t just dump wherever you feel like, there are registered dumpsites that you can go to. We want to keep Pretoria clean.”
The dumper will first have to pay the R15 000 and then the impound fee before he can retrieve his vehicle.
Scholtz hopes the bust serves as a stern warning to other dumpers that their acts won’t be tolerated.
“If I drive around my areas and I see some building rumble or something on the sidewalk, I’ll give you between 7-14 days to clean [up] but if you don’t, my second step is to issue a fine. First a warning, then a fine. So when we go to court you can’t say we just gave a fine. I also take pictures to show everything, so you were warned,” he said.
Scholtz also had only praise for ward 54 councillor, Elma Nel, who he says is always helping with his work.
“Elma is also supporting me with stuff like this, if I catch someone dump, she’s always on hand to assist. She’s a very good councillor.”
Nel had kind words of her own for the inspector and police for dealing with this problem.
“This particular truck has been dumping all over Pretoria Moot and it’s a costly exercise for the city to continue cleaning our green areas when people with no respect for the environment and residents continue this practice of illegal dumping,” Nel said.
“Illegal deposits will not be tolerated in ward 54. Thank you so much SAPS WBP and Inspector Johan Bobby Scholtz. Your commitment to keeping our community neat is remarkable and truly appreciated.”
Recently the metro announced that it spends over R30-million a year clearing illegal dumping.
Residents were reminded that their building rubble can be dumped in Ga-Rankuwa, Mamelodi and Soshanguve while garden refuse can be dumped in Phillip Nel Park, Dorandia and Mountain View.
Residents are also encouraged to report any illegal dumping to the waste management department, metro police, local councillor and police.
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