Vehicle impoundments related to illegal dumping skyrocketed by 133% and illegal dumping fines jumped by 73%. According to a media statement from the City, fines issued in terms of the Integrated Waste By-law continue to increase year-on-year. This year it is up from 20 356 to 35 173, which represents a 73% increase. A City spokesperson added that nearly 60% of the impounding of vehicles in relation to illegal dumping took place in the eastern part of the city.

Illegal dumping reports should include the incident details like time and location, and a description of the vehicle.

 

Vehicle impoundments skyrocketed by 133% and illegal dumping fines by 73%

The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, says that in the last 12 months, Law Enforcement officers impounded 247 vehicles used for illegal dumping. This, he says, is an increase of 133% when compared to the 106 vehicles that were impounded the year before.

Hotspots in the East of the City include

Old Faure Road & Mew Way, Driftsands; Old Faure Road & Eersteriver Way, Mfuleni; Blueberry Hill, Eerste River/Blue Downs; Baden Powel Drive & Swartklip Road, Khayelitsha; Macassar Road, Macassar; Broadlands Road, Strand and Onverwacht Road in Somerset West.

Illegal dumping reports: Photographic evidence too can assist in tracking down and taking action against perpetrators.

 

Hotspots in other parts of the city include

Atlantis Industrial Area, Duinefontein Road, Dunoon, Eisleben Road, Elsies River, Kalkfontein, Kuils River, Muizenberg, Old Lansdowne Road, Parkwood, Philippi East, Retreat, Strandfontein Road, Swartklip Road, Vrygrond, Wallacedene, Wesbank and Wynberg.

Smith added, “The increased successes are a feather in the cap of our staff who are out there, monitoring hotspots and catching suspects in the act.”

Here’s what you need to know about the fines

The fine for illegal dumping is R2 500.
The vehicle impoundment release fee is R8 700.
Should the same vehicle be impounded a second time, the release fee is R11 700, and R17 400 for a third offence.

He said, “However, it is also indicative of persistent efforts to orchestrate unlawful land occupations.”

Contact numbers for illegal dumping

If you witness illegal dumping, report it to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. According to Smith, tips for potential reward can be submitted via the City’s 24-hour tip-off line on 0800 110 077. He says reports can also be submitted via the Safety and Security reporting feature on the City’s mobile app. You will find the app available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The illegal settlement of people

Another problem for the City is the illegal settlement of people. Smith says this has become a massive challenge in Cape Town and there is no clear winner. He said that they hope that the review of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act will better balance the rights of unlawful occupiers with the rights of law-abiding residents. Smith hopes that it will also hold to account those who organise, encourage or profit from unlawful land invasions. The review of the Act is currently underway.

“While some dumping is driven by people looking for shortcuts or simple ignorance to the availability of waste drop-off sites, more and more incidents involve dropping large loads of rubble in pre-determined locations, which is then used to level ground so that new structures can be erected.”