UPL chemical spill a year on after KZN unrest
The impact of the chemical spill a year ago continues to be felt today by affected communities and the environment.
TUESDAY marked a year since the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) distribution warehouse in Cornubia was set on fire during the July unrest.
The fire led to a chemical spill that flooded dangerous chemicals into the Ohlanga tributary and the ocean, which forced the closure of beaches north of the Umgeni River.
At the time, residents and various grassroots organisations said the spill had serious consequences for both people and the environment, a view many still hold today.
Following the toxic fire, a Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), to speak to the concerns of surrounding communities, and an occupational health clinic, to monitor public health, were set up in uMdloti.
Related story: Clinic established after Cornubia chemical spill
While some beaches have reopened, an exclusion zone – of 1km north and south of the uMhlanga estuary mouth and 1km out to sea – in which all activities remain prohibited, is still in place.
The heavy rains in April led to further destruction as the Pollution Control Dam (PCD) at the Cornubia site overflowed into the Ohlanga tributary.
In a statement issued by UPL on Tuesday, the company said it had employed leading independent specialists to contain the overflow caused by containing the fire, undertaking sampling and coordinating with authorities.
“We are pleased that the overall concentrations of substances related to the overflow have declined substantially (dropping to either a fraction of original concentration or undetectable levels) in the system since the end of November 2021. There has also been success in re-establishing vegetation in the area. The system is returning to health, with a variety of tadpoles, algae and birdlife returning to the system,” the statement read.
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Environmentalist Desmond D’Sa, who is a member of the multi-stakeholder forum (MSF), said they remained concerned over the long-term impact of contaminants on the biodiversity and marine life in the area in and around the site warehouse.
He said a recent meeting with the chemical giant outlined a way forward in which UPL would present findings to the MSF and engage further.
“We were told that there would be another meeting where UPL would outline its response to the spill and field questions so we could interpret the data and raise our concerns. The chemical spill has had a negative impact on various communities and negatively impacted the hospitality industry,” he said.
He also called for transparency from the eThekwini Municipality to make water-quality tests conducted on beaches in uMhlanga and farther north public.
