ELM’s Law Enforcement raid illegal dumpsite

The landfill operating illegally is owned by a well-known industrial services company located between the MNS Informal Settlement and Jackaroo Park.

The fully operational dumpsite located between Jackaroo Park and MNS Informal Settlement was shut down by the Emalahleni Local Municipality.

The local municipality’s law enforcement was hard at work as they were spotted raiding an illegal dumping site in Jackaroo Park.

In collaboration with the Emalahleni Local Municipality’s Environmental and Waste Department, the law enforcement compliance team shut down the landfill owned by a well-known industrial services company located between the MNS Informal Settlement and Jackaroo Park.

Alleged employees of the dumpsite in Jackaroo Park were found on-site and apprehended by the municipality’s law enforcement team.

According to Life Mahlaule, manager of the Environmental Management and Compliance Department, members of the community informed the department of the illegal activities operational in the area.

“We conducted our investigation on Thursday, April 25 to ascertain what was happening on site, and we discovered that somebody has opened an unlicensed dump site that is fully operational as you can see.

We managed to investigate and find the owner of this place,” Mahlaule said.

He said that companies that refuse to follow the correct procedures in terms of the municipal by-laws and national legislation that governs waste management, divert to the illegal dumping site.

“We have evidence that they’re charged R40 per load to dump their waste on this site.

This process is also highly dangerous and hazardous to the nearby and surrounding communities, as the waste is not covered or compacted.

Should the waste catch fire, it will result in dire consequences as it also affects the air quality management,” the manager informed.

Emalahleni Local Municipality shut down the illegal landfill site on Friday, April 26.

The owner and operator were apprehended by law enforcement alongside his employees on Friday, April 26.

He also outlined that a criminal case will be opened with the police as the owner has bridged the National Environmental Waste Management Act, which prohibits such activities on privately owned land or public land that has no authority to operate.

“This is one of the biggest discoveries that we have made, and we have seen a couple of times that people are not complying with the legislation.

A team is on the ground and working hard to combat all illegal activities. Anyone who is found guilty of illegal operations will be fined and charged accordingly,” Mahlaule ended.

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