Durban — Hillary residents have called for government intervention as they contend with toxic smells from a nearby dumpsite.
The residents from ward 65 have complained about the stench and health concerns for over a month, and say residents should not have to suffer because of departmental issues.
The pollution issue which started in Hillary has since spread across neighbouring areas such as Seaview, Malvern and Bellair.
Hillary resident Thora Hubl said residents had asked the municipality for an update on the toxic levels. She added that they were informed by the pollution control and risk manager, Phathutshedzo Raphalalani, that a mobile clinic would be supplied to assist residents who have health issues.
Hubl said: “We have also asked for a comprehensive report on what is emitting the fumes and smell; how much toxins have the residents been subjected to; has the particulate matter at the dumpsite been recorded and what are the readings?”
Hubl also asked for an update on what would be done at the dumpsite and an air quality test report.
She said as of Thursday morning the site was still smouldering and continued to release white smoke.
Hubl said the case was initially reported on August 6 to the city manager, Department of Health, specifically the pollution control and risk management, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the metro police.
On Wednesday, eThekwini metro police commissioner Sibonelo Mchunu said their mandate was crime prevention, by-law enforcement and traffic enforcement.
He added that operations such as this were an extra service that the metro police provided, depending on the availability of budget as and when needed.
“eThekwini Solid Waste (ESW) used to make a budget available for us to get members on overtime to come specifically to assist ESW, Security Management and Health to deal with that.
“Such an operation, if it is going to be continuous, requires the Treasury to be available so that we collectively agree which budget to use so that as the head of metro police, I avoid violating the Municipal Systems Act and Municipal Finance Management Act by spending the budget that I don’t have,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu said in situations where health officials are overwhelmed by the culprits and they request back-up, they can contact metro police and SAPS at 031 361 0000.
“I don’t remember being told that metro police did not respond when contacted through this format,” Mchunu said.
KZN Member of the Provincial Legislature, Shontel de Boer, said she had asked Dr Zakhele Dlamini from KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) to be involved.
“He sent the Green Scorpions to the site on 23 August. Upon arrival, the person who manages the site, from Afrimat, said he charged between R20 and R50 per truckload of waste, but could not provide proof,” De Boer said.
“Furthermore, Afrimat does not own the property, but is leasing a portion of the land from the municipality and they said that the municipality is also dumping there,” she added.
De Boer said Afrimat had committed to providing KZN Edtea with a copy of the lease agreement between the municipality and themselves; and also proof of emails between the two from September 2023.
She said Edtea had not received anything to date.
“They are waiting for the proof and trailing emails so they can issue a directive to the municipality,” De Boer said.
She raised concerns that residents would bear the brunt of this owing to negative health effects.
She concluded that the last update was from the provincial department of environmental affairs, not the City.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the City was made aware of the illegal dumping at the site following community complaints.
Sisilana said: “Several inspections have been conducted at the site, including one on 14 August, with representatives from the Health Unit, Cleansing and Solid Waste, the local councillor, and Afrimat.
“During the visit, it was found that building rubble, cardboard, and organic waste had been illegally dumped, with some waste being burnt, causing smoke in the area.”
Sisilana added that illegal dumping continued to pose a huge challenge in the City and hindered the City’s objectives to maintain a clean and safe environment.
She said ongoing efforts were being made in collaboration with various municipal departments to monitor the illegal dumpsite and prevent further dumping.
Community leaders and residents had been engaged to report illegal dumping so that offenders could be identified and fined, she added.
“The City urges all residents to stand firmly against illegal dumping and to report incidents by calling 031 311 8804 or emailing DSW@durban.gov.za,” she said.
Sisilana said residents could report complaints to the Health Unit by calling 031 311 3555 or by emailing envirohealthadmin@durban.gov.za
For any health concerns, community members are encouraged to visit their local clinics, including Chesterville Clinic, Cato Manor Clinic and Malvern Clinic.
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