Police and RUSA officers a Buffelsdraai Landfill. Image:Facebook/Reaction Unit South Africa
EThekwini Municipality shuts down landfill after security shoot 17 waste pickers
Waste pickers at the site have on previous occasions held a driver at gunpoint and forced them to empty their vehicles at the entrance.
Police and RUSA officers a Buffelsdraai Landfill. Image:Facebook/Reaction Unit South Africa
EThekwini Municipality has decided to temporarily close down Buffelsdraai Landfill Site after a stand off between security guards and waste pickers has claimed the life of one picker leaving 16 others injured.
POLICE INVESTIGATE SHOOTOUT
“This follows unfortunate events of the past couple of days when the site was invaded and set alight by some members of the public, leading to a confrontation between security personnel and invaders” says spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo.
Reaction Unit South Africa(RUSA) was called to the scene to assist paramedics in transporting the 16 injured waste pickers who were shot by security guards.
According to RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram, “Several victims say they were scavenging for food and recyclable good when security officers opened fire with rubber bullets before switching to a shot gun with 9mm ammunition.
WASTE PICKERS HAVE HISTORY OF DISRUPTING OPERATIONS ON SITE
“RUSA Medics were immediately dispatched and on arrival discovered the deceased lying in a heap of garbage. He sustained a single gunshot wound to his chest” Balram says.
It’s alleged that the waste pickers were hampering with operations at the landfill.
“Previously, scavengers have blocked trucks from entering designated dumping grounds forcing drivers to drop their loads at the entrance. Drivers were also held at gun point at the entrance and forced to empty their vehicles on several occasions,” Balram stated.
