Three months later and beaches from Umgeni to Salt Rock remain closed

The Forestry, Fisheries and Environment department (DFFE) remains mum on when beaches will be reopened to the public.

Beaches north of the Umgeni River mouth to Salt Rock have been closed for 3 months following the environmental disaster when chemicals stored in a United Phosphorous Limited (UPL) warehouse at Cornubia spilled into the oHlanga tributary and uMhlanga estuary.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Chemical contamination closes beaches north of Umgeni

Beaches were closed after dead marine life washed up.

DFFE is waiting for a report into the spill to be examined in the USA before reopening beaches safe for the public to use.

Meanwhile, government has created a website where concerned parties can register to obtain documents and reports around the investigation into the UPL spill.

ALSO READ: Beaches to remain closed despite independent findings, says eThekwini

This can be found at cornubiaenviroinfo.co.za.

A initial investigation by eThekwini Metro and Ezemvelo found that UPL had illegally stored dangerous chemicals on the site.

DEFF has opened a criminal case against UPL.

ALSO READ: DFFE refuses to reopen beaches without chemical spill findings peer review

United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) have disputed the findings:

“UPL does not admit any non-compliance with the law, as alleged in the preliminary report,” the company stated.

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