Residents of seven communities between La Mercy and Westbrook are uniting against plans to build three gas-fired crematoria near Seatides.

The crematoria, with six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) burners between them, form part of the second phase of the La Mercy Memorial Park (LMMP) development, currently undergoing public participation.

The 61-hectare site lies between the N2 and Seatides, across the highway from King Shaka International Airport. Phase one, approved in 2023, allows for nearly 34 000 graves, as well as chapels, administrative buildings, parking and sewerage infrastructure.

Phase two proposes three crematoria, an ash garden and supporting LPG infrastructure.

A public meeting to discuss the environmental impact assessment descended into chaos in La Mercy on October 24. About 70 residents attended, but objections prevented environmental consultant Anele Ngcongo of NFZ Enviro from delivering her presentation.

Residents questioned councillor Geoff Pullan’s presence, the need for armed security and the lack of public awareness for the LMMP project. Ngcongo said she had received a death threat over her involvement in the project, while notices had been published in The Mercury and Isolezwe.

“We also put up signs as mandated on the M43, Park Avenue and elsewhere. They were all pulled down the next day,” she said.

With the meeting unable to be completed, residents called for it to be rescheduled and for the November 25 objection deadline to be extended.

The Coastal Joint Task Team (CJTT), representing residents of La Mercy, Westbrook, Desainagar, Seatides, Lungelani, Pholani and Thuthukani, has demanded further information and assessments, including:

• Air pollution, emissions and LPG safety risks, including emergency response plans.
• Traffic impacts, tanker movements and alternative access routes.
• Project ownership details and the full phase one approval records.

“These communities reject the proposed cemetery and industrial-scale crematorium at this site and will pursue all lawful avenues to oppose the development in its entirety,” said the CJTT.

The EIA can be requested from Ngcongo at anele@nfzenviro.com. Ngcongo had not responded at time of publication to a request for confirmation of whether the November 25 objection deadline would be extended.