Police have heeded the community's concerns about the safety and security at the Southpark waste site.

In a joint operation, the police and other stakeholders arrived early in the morning at the Southpark landfill for a police raid.

When police arrived, there was already a fire at the site, which was monitored by the relevant authorities.

“Police were looking for weapons, ammunition, drugs, and stolen goods. They are presently occupied with the processing of the persons who have been detained and the confiscated goods,” said SAPS spokesperson Loraine Earle.

Recently two brothers nearly lost their lives at the site after they were attacked and shot at by four unknown males.

READ: Mangaung's dumping site becoming criminals’ playground

The two brothers drove to the site to dump garbage when they were attacked by four unknown males. One of the assailants eventually shot at them.

ALSO READ: Kommer oor inwoners se gesondheid weens brande by stortingsterrein

Residents of the Northern suburbs of Bloemfontein remain concerned about the impact of smoke coming from the existing northern landfill.

Waste pickers who were at the landfill site told OFM News that they were given access cards but they don’t work and they are also useless as no fence prohibits people from going inside the site.

Waste pickers told OFM News they were given access cards.

They also mentioned that they feared for their lives as the site is gang-ridden.
“If they close this place I will struggle, I don’t want to lie,” says one of the waste pickers.

OFM News