The South African Police Services (SAPS), working closely with the Green Scorpions (Environmental Management inspectorate) today, 8 February 2010 arrested Gavin Brasher in Welkom, Free State.
Brasher is allegedly at the centre of the illegal dumping of healthcare risk waste (medical waste) in the Free State. Late last year, medical waste was found to be illegally dumped at Maximus Bricks (owned by Brasher), the Welkom show grounds, a farm outside of Welkom and a disused Harmony Gold mine on the outskirts of Welkom.
The arrest of Gavin Brasher was prompted by allegations of threats and intimidation made by Brasher against state witnesses. The investigation into Brasher is ongoing.
Brasher will be facing a number of charges set out in the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, including offences set out in section 67 and 68 of the act relating to illegal disposal of waste, failing to ensure that waste is treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner, managing waste in such a manner that endangers health or the environment or causes a nuisance and failure to obtain a waste management licence for a waste management activity.
The Green Scorpions are also assisting SAPS in relation to the investigation of offences related to fraud and certain offences in the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The illegal dumping of medical waste is in contravention of a number of provisions of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act which came into effect on 3 July 2009. The maximum penalties for committing these offences are R10 million or 10 years imprisonment or both.
Members of the public are urged to report environmental incidents and crimes to the 24 hour hotline number on 0800 205 005.
For media queries contact:
Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
8 February 2010
