On Thursday 17 October 2013, fines totalling R105 700 were issued in a multi-agency, city-wide operation that targeted dumping, environmental crime and other by-law contraventions, according to City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman J.P. Smith.

In a statement released by the City of Cape Town Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, it was revealed the areas covered included the Philippi Horticultural Area, Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, Harare, Vrygrond, Khayelitsha, Baden Powell Drive, Muizenberg, Brackenfell, Elsies River and Bellville.

“Illegal dumping and environmental crimes are a huge burden to the City both operationally and financially. Not only do these contraventions mean that resources that could be better spent are used on clean-up operations, but it is an extremely dangerous activity that puts communities, especially children, at great risk. As part of our efforts to build a Safe City, we will continue clamping down on those guilty of these by-law contraventions,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman J.P. Smith.

During the operation, officers encountered at least 12 illegal dumping contraventions for which Written Notices to Appear in court were issued; this was mostly in the Philippi Horticultural area, where severe dumping was encountered. With most of these notices, an Admission of Guilt fine of R5 000 is payable by the offenders.

Vehicle checkpoints were also set up in four locations where officers issued various fines for traffic violations that included unlicensed motor vehicles, unlicensed drivers, and other vehicle defects. Officers searched vehicles for illegal possession and transportation of poached items and any contraventions of the Marine Living Resources Act.

The operation was conducted by a number of roleplayers, including City Law Enforcement and Metro Police, City Health’s Environmental Health Section, the Solid Waste Management Department’s Law Enforcement Section and its Collections Section, the Marine and Environmental Law Enforcement Unit, and the Environmental Resource Management Department; as well as the South African Police Services; the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning; and South African National Parks.

As part of the operation, the Collections Section of the Solid Waste Management Department partnered with Law Enforcement, resulting in the confiscation of 27 wheelie bins that had been illegally acquired. Officers also removed 17 informal traders operating illegally at intersections in the Bellville/Brackenfell area.

Several compliance notices were issued for illegal waste disposal sites. These and other illegal dumping and waste disposal sites will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for criminal prosecution and/or administrative action in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and the Environmental Conservation Act. At least two of the sites visited had significant environmental degradation and will be handled through joint action by all relevant authorities. A site where illegal sand mining was taking place has been referred to the Department of Mineral Resources for investigation.