WASTELAND! Shock at dumped carcass site [VIDEO]

TWO Toti locals who were out walking in the bush at the weekend were horrified when they happened upon a site where hundreds of black bags have been dumped – all containing cow skulls and carcasses.
Residents, Marcel Gerhard and Rory Taylor were out near Rainbow Park on Saturday morning, 13 August when they came across the site at about 7.30am.

VIDEO by Viv Williams

 
They were walking along the banks of a slip road that runs alongside the R603, just past the Almond Road junction. The remote spot, though located within 20 metres off the R603, is covered by a canopy of trees which line the road and shade the embankment beneath. This is where a vomit-inducing stench originates from the dumped carcasses and is carried up on the slightest breeze. The site of hundreds of dumped bags  of animal remains beggars belief.

Gerhard and Taylor contacted ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge on Monday, and on Tuesday when the Sun visited the site, Beetge also surveyed the illegally dumping matter. The visibly shocked councillor said: ‘‘It looks like a cattle wasteland.’’

Alongside whole heads were discarded jaw and other bones, all in stark contrast to the black bags. ‘‘This has to be a serious health risk,’’ questioned Gerhard.
Besides the countless bags, were many discarded five litre oil plastic canisters, which made Gerhard think he knew where the material may have emanated from. ‘‘The scale of this dumping and the fact that the bags are all the same indicate to me that it’s quite likely coming from one source – perhaps something like a hostel, where a bigger volume is being processed rather than by one family,’’ said Gerhard.

Cllr Beetge contacted the health department on Tuesday from the site and set up to meet with the inspector. On Wednesday morning, Cllr Beetge confirmed that a site visit had been conducted with Eugene Zulu, DSW waste management consultant for the south.

‘‘The correct procedure for the disposal of animal carcasses and meat is not by merely dumping in some remote location or even delivering to a landfill site without prior warning and arrangement,’’ said Beetge. Arrangements are to be done through Eugene Zulu who can be reached on 031-903-6897 or via email at eugene.zulu@durban.gov.za or by physically reporting such matters at 421 Kingsway, Amanzimtoti (opposite High Tide flats).

‘‘The department will in turn make the necessary arrangements with the landfill site as the matter needs to be buried and closed up, thus eliminating the health risk – all of which is conducted under the supervision of the health department.
Departments are liaising about the illegal dumping and disposal while  investigations continue to identify the culprit.’’

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Photos by Michelle Izatt

In a separate matter, Cllr Beetge happened upon four individuals who were illegally dumping onto the banks of the Amanzimtoti River on Wednesday, 10 August.
In a follow-up investigation, the matter was traced to a local business, the owner of which appeared unaware of the illegal dumping taking place.
He had understood it was being disposed at the landfill site. Following discussions, the dumped matter was collected and properly disposed of by the owner on Tuesday, 16 August and a business disposal contract with the municipality concluded.

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