The City of Cape Town is ramping up its efforts to curb illegal dumping with executive mayor Dan Plato calling on law enforcement officials to be extra vigilant with those suspected of carrying out the practice.

This comes after the City’s law enforcement department recently caught occupants of a vehicle illegal dumping construction material along Baden Powell Drive. The occupants were apprehended, fined and had their vehicle impounded.

Commenting on the situation Plato says: “The type of behaviour displayed by these offenders is completely unacceptable and is a risk not only to the environment, but also to public health.”

“I have asked the City’s Law Enforcement officials to be extra vigilant with those suspected of illegal dumping as they are placing a massive burden on our staff to keep our communities clean when it is private businesses who are making this mess,” he adds.  

The municipality is also calling on the Cape community to report illegal dumping noting that any person caught dumping illegally will be issued with a Section 56 written notice, which carries a fine of R5 000. The dumper will also be liable for an impoundment release fee of R8 426 before they can reclaim their vehicle.

“The City of Cape Town has 26 drop-off sites for garden refuse, builders’ materials and any other items that do not fit into household wheelie bins. These are more than sufficient to ensure the legal and safe disposal of waste,” Plato says.

The City has been plagued by a recent spate of illegal dumping. According to the Mayor the City impounded 21 vehicles and issued fines totalling R94 950 in terms of the Integrated Waste Management By-Law between July and December 2018 alone.