UPDATE: Slick spotted off Toti beach
SUSPECTED oil or chemical slick of about 50m wide was spotted off Amanzimtoti’s main beach from about noon on Tuesday, 3 March.
According to Sapphire Coast Toti Tourism chairman, Jacques van Schalkwyk, they noticed the dark brown or black discolouration and dispatched boats to survey the spill, which was making its way southwards on the current.
An attempt to take a water sample failed, and it is not known what caused the notable discolouration.
At 1.45pm, the dark shadow on the surface of the water was seen directly in front of Chain Rocks, almost in line with the shark nets. However, it later dispersed.
By the time that South African Maritime Safety Authority representatives arrived at the beach, there was no sign of the discolouration in the water.
Ward councillor, Andre Beetge, was among those monitoring the situation, along with environmental authorities, the beach manager and harbour authorities. He posted photos online and later updated his Facebook page to say the discolouration had dissipated.
“As aquatic safety was unable to draw water samples, we are left to speculate that the slick could have originated from an accidental pipeline discharge that was in turn treated, hence the quick dispersion,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk’s concern was that, should it be oil, the beach in the area adjacent to Toti lagoon could be contaminated in the event of the current washing it ashore.
The Sun contacted both Sapref Refinery, which operates the single buoy mooring off Isipingo, as well as Acacia, managers of the marine effluent pipeline for the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex (UIC) to establish whether either had recorded any incidents on Tuesday.
Reg Bhikum, managing director of Acacia (formerly Heartlands Leasing) which manages the UIC, said: ‘‘On Tuesday, 3 March, a sea discolouration occurred in the vicinity of our pipeline.
‘‘Notwithstanding the fact that the properties of the plume were not consistent with previous discolourations, the throughput from the pipelines was immediately significantly reduced, as a precautionary measure. An investigation is underway to establish the root cause of the problem.’’
The licence advisory forum is aware of the situation, and this plume will be discussed at the next meeting.’’
Sapref Refinery had not responded to the Sun’s email query at the time of going to press.
