Source: BCC owed US$12 000 in environment violator fines – The Southern Eye
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) is owed over US$12 000 in unpaid fines for environmental offences, with only US$3 000 having been paid so far.
Environmental violations in the city have risen, including sand poaching, firewood poaching, illegal gold mining, and illegal refuse dumping, among others.
Latest council minutes on parks show that the director of housing and community services, Dictor Khumalo, recently reported that environmental issues such as land degradation have been recorded in Greater Bulawayo and water catchment areas in the city.
Bulawayo’s water catchment area is in Matabeleland South where the city supply dams; Upper Ncema, Lower Ncema, Umzingwane, Inyankuni, Insiza Mayfair and Mtshabezi are situated.
“Routine patrols were conducted in and around the catchment areas to control environmental damage. During these patrols, 81 items were confiscated including detecting machines, crowbars, axes and shovels. Eight illegal gold panners were arrested,” the report read.
“All arrested panners and confiscated items were handed over to Esigodini Police. The illegal gold panners arrested since January stand at 172.”
The report notes that mineral and sand extraction crimes are rampant in Greater Bulawayo.
“The BCC rangers had a joint operation with the City Health Department to control illegal dumping in and around the central business district (CBD). Patrols were conducted in both the eastern and western areas of the city,” the report read.
“During the patrols, a total of 40 tickets were issued to various offenders, and 12 tickets have already been paid for, and a sum of US$3 077,34 was realised. A total of 28 tickets are still outstanding with a sum of US$12 513,48.”
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