The efforts of Gauteng’s environment management inspectors (EMI) were highlighted at the department of agriculture, conservation and environment in Johannesburg on Monday.
Provincial minister Khabisi Mosunkutu said the quest of the specialised unit was to build a safe, secure and environmentally sustainable community.
”Since the launch of Gauteng’s EMI last year, the unit has notched up significant strides towards ensuring constitutional rights of our protected citizens.”
Some of the efforts of EMI included a health waste treatment facility in Ekurhuleni that was shut down due to health risks to communities.
”Operations in this facility were contaminating our ground water and polluting air. This could cause health risks to people who would come into contact with illegally dumped health waste”.
The EMI, also known as the green scorpions, recently seized a post office parcel containing more than 13 venomous snakes that were being illegally smuggled into the country.
They have also established an inspection unit at the OR Tambo International Airport.
The unit inspects a quarantined section, checking permits of animals arriving in the country. — Sapa