Clean City Summit - Enough is Enough

Enough is enough! That’s the message that Pikitup Managing Director, Zami Nkosi, sternly put across when launching the illegal dumping campaign at the Clean City Summit on 09 September. The campaign is aimed at eliminating illegal dumping in the City ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and would use an integrated communication approach as well as law enforcement to achieve this. Mr Zami Nkosi, Managing Director, Pikitup Pikitup has partnered with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to create a unit that will focus only on enforcing the City’s waste by-laws,” said Nkosi. “The 47 man unit is fully operational and has already issued nearly 4000 citations in the past 6 months”. Deployed strategically across the City, the unit will work hand in hand with Pikitup to bring perpetrators to book. 150 of the worst illegal dumping spots have been identified and are being monitored. Members of the Unit to enforce the City's By-laws “We have a comprehensive strategy in place to address the problem of illegal dumping,” said David Tembe of JMPD. “A zero tolerance approach will be taken”. The strategy includes a review of waste by laws, fine structures as well as preventative measures. Mr David Tembe, Acting Chief of JMPD “We are reviewing the fine structure which currently allows us to fine perpetrators between R500 and R10 000, to make it even more stringent,” adds Nkosi. From an education and communications point of view Pikitup will roll-out a red card initiative to the public, giving residents a tool to immediately voice their disgust at illegal dumping and embarrass perpetrators without any confrontation. Pikitup’s call center number is printed on the red card, enabling residents to call-in and report illegal dumping, upon which a JMPD team will be quickly dispatched to the scene of the crime. Prof. John Nesidoni (Deputy Director General of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment) and Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo Residents are also encouraged to send in photographs and details of perpetrators to their local newspapers through which leads will be obtained and followed up on. Illegal dumping can be reported on 011 712 5200.