Threats were made against a Toti activist after he complained about Sappi Saiccor continuing to dump ash, gypsum and tree bark in the greater Toti area.
Since Les Spence complained to Sappi, the world’s biggest producer of dissolving wood pulp decided to stop supplying blockmakers with ash.
The ash is used in the manufacture of building blocks, which Sappi offers the community for free. One of the conditions for getting it for free is that they are not supposed to sell the ash on to anyone else. However, Les has witnessed a block yard owner selling the ash for R800 a truckload to other brick manufacturers.
“Sappi was dumping these waste products in and around unauthorised areas and locations in our community, which we believe is possibly an enormous threat to the environment and our water source,” said Les Spence.
A public meeting was called on Friday, 12 September to inform members of the blockmakers association that Sappi would no longer supply ash for block-making.
“Sappi is fully aware of these allegations and are taking them very seriously indeed, to the extent that Sappi Limited’s internal audit department is in the process of conducting a comprehensive and independent investigation into this very complex matter,” said Sappi regional communications manager, Zelda Schwalbach.
“Members of this audit team have met with the complainant and are in communication with him. The investigation is currently underway and an outcome is pending. When the investigation has been completed, Sappi has undertaken to revert to the complainant with feedback.”
Toti Conservancy was contacted by Les, shown the sites and agreed to follow it up. Chairman of the conservancy, Laura Taylor, who is also an environmental consultant specialising in waste management, attended a meeting with Sappi on 8 September concerning the waste products being dumped on a local farm and at various brick and block-making businesses. Sappi agreed to provide the conservancy with proof of various tests that have been conducted on the substances, as well as other documentation it claimed to have in its possession.
“This is a list of tests and documentation we require in order to satisfy our concern over the state of the environment due to Sappi’s activities,” said Laura, “including a letter from the authorities giving you permission to dump at Liesagang’s farm.”
The list includes:
- A letter from authorities giving Sappi permission to dump on the farm;
- Tests on the actual gypsum, ash and tree bark dumped on a local farm to prove there are no heavy metals present in the substances;
- Water test results from all of the streams on the farm, including the co-ordinates of those test sites. These tests should be conducted and compared with the requirements of the South African water quality guidelines for freshwater of the Department of Water Affairs.;
- Proof that this is being used as a soil beneficiation project and not just a convenient dump site;
- Correspondence with the authorities in connection with the waste license requirements in terms of the Waste Act of 2008 for the blockyards and their final decision in this regard;
- Sappi’s documented requirements to the blockyards on how their operations need to be managed and how the ash must be transported to the yards. Plus audit results on regular follow-up visits to ensure requirements are being met;
- A register of complaints that Sappi has received with regards to ash and gypsum disposal.
Toti Conservancy agreed to give Sappi two to three weeks to comply with its requests for this documentary proof.
