JUST IN: Oily film, chemical smell noted in Durban harbour canal

Exactly two weeks after a varnish-like substance spilled through the canals that feed into the eastern end of Durban harbour near Bluff Yacht Club, yet another spill has been identified in the Amanzimnyama canal along Edwin Swales Drive by concerned environmentalists.

Desmond D’Sa responded to Bluff resident Ivor Alyward’s report about a spill at the weirs along Edwin Swales Drive earlier today (Thursday, 8 March). Photos show an oily-looking film on the surface of the water, which had trapped debris in the metre-wide swathe.

The weirs on the Amanzimnyama canal, which flows into the harbour near the yacht club, were the site of a horribly chemical smell which constricted one’s breathe, according to Aylward. “I fear when the rain comes, it will wash down into the harbour and beaches as well as the Bluff Yacht Club, which always bears the brunt of this water pollution. This is going into our sea and people need to be made aware of this,” said Alyward.

He claimed to have seen men removing plastic from the weirs. “As I passed the weirs, I saw Portnet officials had stopped there. They were removing plastic bottles, so I asked how are you involved in this, and a guy replied they had been told to remove the plastic bottles so the water could flow through the weir. The next minute, they left and the job was not completed. It was very strange. Also a boom across the channel was preventing the oils and whatever from flowing into the weir,” he said.

In response to the varnish-like contaminant in the harbour a fortnight ago, BYC’s Densel Wortmann said if the canals’ weirs were serviced and maintained, there wouldn’t be as big a problem with pollution in the harbour so often.

D’sa said the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) had responded to the spill when notified by Aylward of it at about 10.30am. “We are taking this to the city to get some answers. We are trying to see the impact that it had on the boats in and the harbour and we will push for results,” he said. Aylward said he had reported the chemical smell to Ethekwini’s Water and Sanitation department.

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