adminSpeaking to stakeholders during the council’s strategic planning workshop at a local hotel on Tuesday, the health services director Dr Zanele Hwalima said scavenging at Ngozi Mine was illegal.
“Ngozi Mine is a security site and by right it should be fenced to deter people from going there. Members of the public should not go there because it is risky,” said Dr Hwalima.
“There is a lot of heavy machinery and equipment there. In any case scavenging at the site is illegal. Those who want to scavenge for usable scrap material should do so with the approval of council through a tender process and pay rates.”
She was responding to stakeholders’ concerns over the situation at the dumpsite.
The participants, who included residents and business associations, councillors, development partners, churches and transporters, challenged council to maintain order at Ngozi Mine.
They said there was chaos at the site where residents and squatters scramble for scrap metal.
One of the female participants from a local church said she visited the site recently, but was denied entrance.
She alleged that council officials were also demanding bribes from members of the public to allow them to get in.
Last year a man was crushed to death by a bulldozer while trying to get scrap material at the site.
Online Reporter