DURBAN - Merebank residents celebrated a victory after an illegal scrapyard was closed following several protests in the south Durban community.
The community complained about soaring crime levels, recording at least 40 crime incidents in one month, which they attributed to scrapyards dealing with vagrants who were stealing pots and gates to sell to them.
Merewent Community Foundation chairperson Premila Deonath said the scrapyard at Ninapur Place was shut down by police recently.
She told the Daily News on Monday that the community regarded the closure as a victory. “All members of Merewent Community Foundation were actively involved in a placard demonstration against the scrapyards.
“Petitions were handed to the mayor’s (representative) … and SAPS. We're delighted to report that this pressure, including letters to the authorities, has resulted in the major scrapyard in Ninapur Place being closed down. We urge the authorities to act speedily and close the ones in the Navy (area) as well. Theft of copper pipes has reduced to nil now. We thank the media for their support and all role-players who assisted in the successful closure.”
She added that they would continue applying pressure for those remaining in the Navy area to be closed as well, saying the scrapyards were not supposed to be allowed to operate in the residential area.
Johny Singh, who said he was a close family friend of the scrapyard owner, not the chief executive of the business as was previously mentioned, confirmed that the business had no legal documents to operate, which was why police came to close it down.
Daily News