The eThekwini Municipality has been called upon to list and remove all illegal scrapyards operating on residential and municipal land. The issue was raised during a recent full council meeting, where a councillor highlighted the significant financial and infrastructural damage caused by these operations.
Ward 51 DA councillor, Maggie Johnson, stated that the daily theft of essential municipal and private infrastructure, such as water meters, electricity cables, and manhole covers, is putting a severe strain on the city’s budget and ratepayers. This rampant theft, primarily of ferrous metals like silver, platinum, and copper, is estimated to cost South African trade and industry between R46 and R50 billion annually.
Johnson acknowledged that the National Minister of Police has made amendments to the Second-Hand Goods Act and applauded the Metro Police for establishing a dedicated task team in March to address the problem. She noted that the task team has already made 36 arrests.
A list of all illegal scrapyards is currently being compiled to facilitate the removal of these operators. Johnson called on the Council Legal Department to take a more active role by issuing eviction orders to businesses operating illegally on council roads, verges, and vacant land. She concluded that illegal scrapyards and businesses have “destroyed the aesthetics of once beautiful and pristine suburbs.”
