Investigation on-going into Benoni explosions

Representatives of the company, Ekurhuleni officials and community members met in Lakefield on June 23, to address the community’s concerns about the explosions.

“Reclam’s team was able to establish that not all the noise local residents have reported hearing is from the company’s Dunswart site, because the residents said they continued to hear explosions during times that the company had put a moratorium on shredding and working on materials that had the potential to explode,” said Goko.

“Since the residents reported hearing undue noise, Reclam has curtailed its work on materials with the potential to cause explosions to weekdays only.

“To that extent, the company does not currently work with such materials after hours, and between 5pm on Fridays and 10am on Mondays, pending the ongoing investigation that is taking place into the reported noise.”

Goko said the noise could be coming from other industries in the area.

The City Times reported, in the paper dated June 26, on Lakefield community members who were holding The New Reclamation Group responsible for the noise, which they said, had been going on for years.

Community members said they heard explosions from as far as Northmead.

Goko said the company will continue to work with the community on the issue.

“The company has offered local residents and schools tours of the Dunswart plant in the spirit of engendering a closer working relationship with the local community, operating transparently and educating young people, in particular, about the importance of recycling materials and looking after the environment,” Goko added.