Cape Town gets tough with illegal dumpers

A major crackdown by the City of Cape Town has illegal dumpers on notice. A TimesLIVE report notes that six months since the start of the Integrated Waste Management By-law‚ authorities have already collected more than R1m in fines and impounded close to 70 cars. ‘We can see small improvements in the aesthetics of the communities where we have contained the dumping. But the real results are when we look at the length of the queues at the waste disposal sites and see that the volume has increased quite a bit‚’ JP Smith‚ mayoral committee member for safety and security‚ said. The change came after the city spent well over its planned budget for clean-up‚ giving authorities the ability to swiftly punish illegal dumping. Police may now impound the vehicle of those caught illegally dumping. Of the nearly 70 vehicles impounded‚ authorities noted 70% were seized in Philippi‚ primarily along Duinefontein and Weltevreden roads. Officials noted the frustratingly close proximity of a free drop-off site in Schaapkraal Road. Despite the current success‚ Smith said the City is looking for ways to send a stronger message. Proposed tactics include forfeiture of cars by repeat offenders‚ and promotion of the city’s 24 dumping sites.