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The Western Cape Provincial Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) continues to make steady progress in combating illegal dumping in the Western Cape. On Monday, the principal of a high school in Cape Town appeared in court on charges of illegal dumping at the school. The principal was charged with allowing a significant amount of building rubble to be dumped on the school’s premises as well as a fraud charge relating to the acceptance of R160 000 for such dumping.

Dr. Eshaam Palmer, the Province’s Director of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement says there have been a number of illegal dumping cases at school premises in the province and the Green Scorpions had to take action as the dumped material constitutes significant harm to the environment and poses a danger to learners.
“In this latest case, the principal and one co-accused, allegedly negotiated with a construction company to lease a portion of the school property to dispose of and store large volumes of demolition waste during the company’s construction phase on land opposite to the school.  The company allegedly paid the principal an amount of R120 000 for utilising the portion of the land for dumping.”

Dr. Palmer says the particular case has been coming for a number of years following initial complaints that the Green Scorpions received in 2012. “Unlike other cases, in this particular case, the alleged offender failed to comply with a Compliance Notice issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Due to this failure the matter was referred to the Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit to institute criminal action.” The provincial Department of Education was also alerted and a forensic investigation conducted by an independent auditing company following which, fraud charges were added to the illegal dumping charges by the National Prosecuting Authority.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell congratulated the Green Scorpion team. “The Green Scorpions are not always popular, but they are increasingly vital given the proliferation of environmental challenges in South Africa. It’s crucial to get communities to cooperate and work with the authorities. At the end of the day it’s to everyone’s benefit to protect our environment as best we can,” Bredell said.

Bredell said the sentences handed down by courts for environmental crimes are increasingly reflecting the serious nature of the crimes.
“The penalties applicable to environmental offences of this nature (dumping) amounts to a maximum of R10 million rand and/or 10 years imprisonment per charge.”

The case has been postponed till 17 June 2016.

Issued by Western Cape Government