Questions surround mass fish kill in uMhlanga Estuary

AN investigation has been launched into the mass fish kill discovered at the mouth of the uMhlanga Estuary over the weekend.

Several fish species, including juvenile fish, were found floating near the mouth of the estuary by a resident walking in the area.

Ward 35 councillor Nicole Bollman said tests are currently being undertaken to determine the cause of the environmental disaster.

“The pollution department has assured me that they are actively engaged in investigating the cause of the fish kill. Additionally, video evidence depicting the situation at the Ohlange Wastewater Pump Station has emerged, providing further insight into the potential factors contributing to the incident.

Also read: R93m reprioritised to repair Durban’s sewerage infrastructure

“To ascertain the root cause of the fish kill, tests have been conducted. These tests are crucial in determining the exact cause of the unfortunate situation, and their results will provide valuable information for addressing and preventing similar occurrences in the future,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said they, too, had been made aware of the situation.

“Ezemvelo was made aware of the fish die-off by the Ward 35 councillor, who was alerted by a person visiting the beach. We notified the eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation as well as the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) appointed estuarine specialists. The fish have been collected by the eThekwini waste section. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to collect all as it is small juvenile fish that are mainly affected. With the mouth opening on Sunday morning, more did wash out onto the beach,” he said.

The uMhlanga Estuary and a section of the Ohlanga River were affected by the toxic spill event from the UPL Cornubia warehouse which was set alight during the July 2021 unrest.

Also read: Cornubia chemical spill’s impact will be felt for a considerable period of time says minister

In a statement, UPL said a preliminary investigation showed 100% dissolved oxygen levels upstream and downstream of the UPL site.

“Further investigations revealed that a sewage overflow had occurred from the Blackburn sewage pump station and was the likely cause of low oxygen levels at this point of the river. This, along with the high levels of ammonia typically found in sewage, potentially led to the fish die-off. Workers at the Blackburn sewage pump station confirmed that overflow occurred between Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, and was a regular occurrence,” the company said.

However, the eThekwini Municipality says the matter is currently under investigation.

“The matter is currently under investigation, and the City cannot give a response based on speculation. We will await the test results from our trusted laboratory and then respond accordingly,” said City spokesperson Gugu Sisilana.

In August last year, another mass fish-kill was discovered on the banks of the uMngeni River near Blue Lagoon.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.