SECUNDA – The police arrested the driver of a bakkie caught in possession of stolen municipal property yesterday, 22 October.
A resident spotted people at the Secunda dumping site loading the stolen manhole covers and iron water meter boxes onto the bakkie just before 4pm.
Mr Jan du Plessis from AfriForum was called to investigate and he found the stolen goods on the back of the bakkie.
The police arrested the driver of the bakkie and impounded the vehicle.
The dump site dwellers claim that a local service that regularly visits the landfill site, regularly sell these items at the dump site from where it is resold to scrap metal dealers.
The police are investigating the theft.
Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, councillor from the DA, said Govan Mbeki Municipality has opened a case at the police station.
“Residents just need to report their stolen boxes to the municipality. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
She also said the impounded vehicle comes from Bethal.
“The driver buys the stuff at the landfill site, where they are well equipped and can even weigh the ‘recycled’ steel. The bakkie takes the stolen goods back to Bethal and sells it to a scrapyard which in turn, takes it to Springs.”
