Labyrinth Stables have had enough
Since the fire was extinguished, residents and business owners said the factory purposely reigniting the belts have caused health issues within the immediate area.
Management at the World Wide Conveyor Factory on Pretoria Road has been accused by residents and a business owner of exacerbating health issues by constantly reigniting the conveyer belts that burnt during a fire on September 10.
William Ntladi, district manager media liaison of DEMS, said on that day the Rynfield fire station firefighters reported to the call under the impression that it was a grass fire, only to realise that conveyer belts were burning, hence backup was required.
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“When we approached the factory management to tell them we were going to report them and go to the paper we were told to do what we want,” said Desirée Miller, owner of Labyrinth Stables which is next to the factory.
“I now have horses suffering with asthma and some that are vomiting. This constant burning is not only affecting my business but also my animals, family and belongings.
“I have to wipe my tables and counters in my house daily and all that comes off is black soot, it’s terrible.”
She also made mention of the factory digging holes where rubbish is thrown into and then burnt.
“It’s also made its way into my water system so now every few weeks I have to get my water tested to make sure it isn’t toxic. I can’t give toxic water to my animals, I just don’t know what to do.”
Desiree’s mother, Gloria Miller (83), said she is constantly suffering from smoke inhalation since her recent visit to her daughter.
“I am too old for this, it’s enough, I have been in an out of hospital on numerous occasions because of smoke inhalation,” Gloria explained.
Anonymous residents’ concerns:
• Resident one: “We have resorted to keeping our windows facing that direction closed, particularly as we have young children and a toddler who can be severely affected.”
• Resident two: “We have been suffering extreme sore throats and headaches; I do not understand why they are getting away with what they are doing.”
The resident also has horses and dogs that now have health issues due to the smoke inhalation.
• Resident three: “We have video proof that they are starting their own fires, burning the rubber, we have seen them sitting with blow torches and filmed them.”
Trevor Howard-Tripp, manager of the World Wide Conveyor:
“Our business is not and never will be set on burning anything.
“Any rubber that has been burning up until Thursday (October 29) has been due to the original fire.
“Unfortunately due to the nature of the fire, the nature of the product and the packaging (rolls) the fire has always looked like it has been beaten, only to resurface with a prevailing wind.”
Howard-Tripp said the following have been implemented as a clean-up operation:
• Cut the cables in some of the rolls so as to help drop the weight of each roll.
• Called the fire department every time a fire was reignited.
• Investigating a specialist fire system, in consultation with the fire department.
Miller said not only is the burning a health-hazard, the walls that were broken during the initial fire, separating the factory from the stables, is stopping her horses from grazing in their usual place.
“Not having a wall means that while my horses are grazing, they are able to walk onto the premises of the factory where they could get hurt due to the objects on their premises,” she explained.
Howard-Tripp responded: “Once this clean-up has been completed we will attend to the boundary walls. We cannot afford to repair them now only to damage them during clean up.”
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Ntladi provided the following numbers for DEMS:
• Emergency: 10177 National Toll Free Number
• Cell phone Emergency Number: 112 International Toll Free Number
• Local Municipal: 011 458 0911: Life Threatening Ekurhuleni Emergency Line.
• Gauteng Provincial Ambulance Services: 011 564 2210/1
PART 3, Section 8 (2) of the emergency services by-laws prohibits people from making fires posing hazards to any human being, animal or premises. This is augmented by Veld and Forest Fire Act 1989 (Act 101 of 1998) and Environmental Management Act 1998 (Act 73 of 1989).
Part 3 section 9 (2) states: “No person may without the written authority of the Chief Fire Officer, burn any refuse, wood, straw or other combustible materials within the area, or have them burnt or permit them to be burnt within the area, unless the refuse, wood, straw or other combustible materials are burnt inside an approved purpose made incinerator or incinerating device, subject to the provisions of subsection 1.”
