THERE are more questions than answers about Umdoni Municipality’s new plan to import trash-for-cash from Lebanon.
Speaker Sykes Naidoo directed the Mail’s questions to the offices of the municipal manager or mayor.
“They are the only persons authorised to speak on behalf of council,” said Mr Naidoo.
Our questions duly sent to both the latter were unanswered at the time of going to print.
However, DA Councillor Edwin Baptie has not been shy to comment and also voiced his concerns about the deal which will apparently nett Umdoni about R4.3-million per month.
Lebanon is a war-torn country, apparently battling to cope with mountains of waste and is prepared to pay $1 per ton to Umdoni to dispose of imported bales at the Humberdale dump at Kelso.
Mr Baptie said the vote in favour of accepting 300 000 metric tons of Lebanon garbage monthly was ‘rushed through’ by the ANC majority in council.
Councillor Baptie is not the only sceptic. Others contacted the Mail wanting to know:
“We can hardly cope with our own rubbish,” said Scottburgh resident Erna Nel. “Just look at areas throughout the district.
“The rivers and our water resources are full of waste, why accumulate more? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Councillor Baptie said the ‘official’ reason for a rushed decision was to beat the ‘opposition’… other municipalities.
The responsible export company, Serengeti, said that the Lebanon Government wanted an answer by month end.
I do not believe that the urgency existed,” said Councillor Baptie.
“Waste in Lebanon has accrued over many years. I believe that the entire process was stage-managed. This to ensure that not too many questions were asked.
“This whole matter is about money and I am convinced that the ANC made deals with the importers a long time ago.”
Apart from the suspicions, other questions unanswered are:
Was an Environmental Impact Assessment done?
How will the Humberdale site cope? The dump only has 47 000 cubic metres of airspace left.
A new site will take two years to build. Meanwhile, where will the Lebanon rubbish go?
Councillor Baptie said it was a ‘common tactic’ for the ANC to add late items on agendas and rush decisions through with the ANC majority to stifle debate at portfolio committee meetings.
These meetings served to expose flaws and weaknesses in proposals and management would be required to submit properly researched reports.
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