31 August 2007
The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has
discovered with shock an illegal makeshift medical waste dumping site in
Polokwane, Nirvana suburb. Upon receipt of a tip off about the site, our Green
Scorpions conducted an inspection said site on 30 August 2007 and discovered
that indeed somebody has turned an illegal dumping site into an illegal medical
waste disposal site.
Medical waste is classified as hazardous waste in terms of Environment
Conservation Act, which is not allowed to be dumped at any waste site but only
in prescribed site which is Holfontein (Johannesburg). It is for this reason
that the Department of Health and Social Development has contracted a
professional service provider to deal with this matter accordingly.
It is on account of the foregoing background that our department has opened
a case (934/08/2007) with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Polokwane
for violation of Section 19 of the Environment Conservation Act. We condemn in
strong possible terms any violation of the law particularly the environmental
laws of our country.
Enquiries:
Masoga Lehlogonolo
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 463 9755
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism,
Limpopo Provincial Government
31 August 2007
