Play your part, report pollution
SDCEA coordinator, Desmond D’sa shared that although some issues have subsided, others remain a concern.
THE South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) urges all community members to continue logging pollution complaints through to the organisation.
SDCEA coordinator, Desmond D’sa shared that although some issues have subsided, others remain a concern.
“The sewage stench emanating from the Southern Waste Water Treatment Works’ (SWWTW) plant in Merebank has improved drastically and we commend city officials who have been proactive.
“Cuttings Beach on the other hand still has massive chemicals flowing through the different canals from the industries and refineries upstream where chemicals are dumped. In terms of the Engen refinery blast in December 2020 we still await Engen’s management to release the report of the incident which they have in their possession. They have deliberately delayed providing all information as SDCEA has requested. Fortunately, we solved the payments and all affected block 10 residents of Wiest Road received their compensation as well as Dr DK Pillay who was outstanding, however, this was paid into his account in the last week,” said D’sa.
The alliance has also been hard at work to address environmental issues even further out the south basin, including investigating the toxic soup of air pollution that was recently emitted into a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Blackburn, middle-class areas of Verulam and Tongaat as well as onto the affluent areas of Umhlanga, Umdloti, Ballito and Salt Rock.
“People complained about respiratory illnesses, where they struggled to breathe, experienced itchy skin, mouths and face was burning. There was also water pollution in the estuarine of Umhlanga River and into the Umdloti Beach which resulted in tons of dead fish, including crayfish and fish nursery where crabs and small fish were killed. The beaches have closed for over a month resulting in the eThekwini Municipality banning all swimming, surfing and fishing on all the above areas and south of the Umgeni River,” he said.
Report pollution on 031- 311 3555/5150 (daytime) or 031- 361 0000 (night-time) and ask for a reference number. Send the reference to SDCEA by calling 031 4611 991 and ask for Bongani Mthembu or email bongani@sdceango.co.za. Alternatively, call 0691204970 or email joanne@sdceango.co.za.
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