Cape Town - A man has been caught dumping thousands of tablets in Philippi, Cape Town, the city said on Wednesday.
“When confronted, the suspect indicated that it was not the first time he had been instructed to dump tablets and other medical waste at the spot,” safety and security mayoral committee member Jean-Pierre Smith said in a statement.
The man was spotted around 10.30am, dumping the medication into a hole along the Old Weltevreden Road. The company he worked for was known to the city and seemed to be a habitual offender, Smith said.
“I am sure there are many others who engage in similar practices on a daily basis... However, the dumping of medical waste is even more shocking, because of the increased health risks and apparent disregard for general public safety,” he said.
In some cases, children had been injured or died as a result of exposure to medical waste.
Six fines totalling R30,000 and written court notices were issued for the illegal dumping of rubble in Philippi, Nyanga, Manenberg and Mitchells Plain on Friday, Smith said.
He urged the public to report illegal dumping in their neighbourhoods and take photographs if possible.
Smith could not immediately confirm whether the man had been arrested and which court he would appear in.
Sapa