Environmental group angered by oil spill

THE South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has condemned an oil spill in the Amzimyana river has affected the mangroves, the biggest nursery of fish and marine resources and birds that feed off the food in the sandbank at the Durban Harbour.

Commenting on this incident, Desmond D’sa from SDCEA said if the oil goes beyond the mouth of the Durban Harbour it will have an impact on Durban’s beaches.

D’sa said this was the biggest oil, chemical and sewerage incident in Durban in years.

SDCEA received numerous complaints, via Facebook, phone calls and emails about the oil leak late afternoon on Sunday, 30 August.

Residents of the Bluff, led by Ivor Aylward, accompanied members of the SDCEA, Green Scorpions, Transnet and eThekwini Municipality Water officials met around the incident path in the Amanzimnyama River.

“This massive incident was compounded further by recent rains that pushed the oil down to the mangroves on either side of the harbour. A number of birds had oil on their legs and feathers. All the mangrove trees are covered with oil and the sand bank nursery of birdlife and a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species have been destroyed because of this incident. These fish nurseries are an essential source for food for thousands of communities. This has caused negative environmental impacts destroying vegetation and marine life,” said D’sa.

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He said the Amanzimnyama canal has been a dumping river for surrounding industries and sewerage waste.

“The informal settlers who live on the river banks have not been provided with sanitation facilities and there are many companies with operations that face the river and some have drain outlets that enter the river. At this stage the most likely source has not yet been identified,” he said.

D’sa stated the group had walked the entire area to carry out a thorough investigation and taken samples of the sludge and oil at various points.

This joint investigation has been done so no area is left untouched and a proper investigation is done.

“With all that has taken place we have seen immediate action from Transnet in getting booms installed across the Durban harbour to avoid further damage, and here we recognise the Durban Harbour port manager and his officials who acted immediately in appointing Spill Tech.”

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D’sa said this incident showed that when you have active citizens and government officials working together, it makes a huge difference because you get swift action and the problem is identified.

D’sa said in a previous oil incident in 2015 the culprit admitted guilt and was issued a notice to clean up the mess although they were not given any fines and were not prosecuted.

“We therefore hope that the evidence gathered will lead to the culprit company or companies being found out and brought before a court of law to be prosecuted. These companies need to clean up their mess and have to be held accountable,” D’sa said.

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