SDCEA and affected Communities to picket outside eThekwini City Health following concerning chemical emissions
Many of the families with newly born babies and chronic sick family members complained of suffering from burning eyes, rashes on their bodies, sore throat and problems with breathing.
ON Friday 16 August 2019  at about 3.10pm a vast toxic chemical emission was emitted into the air and had an immediate effect on community people’s health on their fence line and this also entered the communities of Wentworth along Woodville road, Major Calvert Street, Hime Street, Assegai, Austerville roads as well as parts of Merebank.
“Once the wind picked up the gas was carried as far as Amanzimtoti, Durban North, Umbilo, Yellowwood Park, Merebank, Bluff, Isipingo and many other areas. The chemical was so strong that we immediately went to investigate and the source was coming from Safripol Plant (Hosaf Fibres),” said SDCEA Coordinator Desmond D’sa
Over 400 residents had experienced burning of eyes and mouth, nausea, bleeding noses, difficulty breathing, and skin irritation, rashes on the skin, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. As the chemical incident unfolded what was apparent is that there was no leadership from the eThekwini Health Department to implement an emergency or evacuation plan to safeguard the public from a major chemical incident.
Many of the families with newly born babies and chronic sick family members complained of suffering from burning eyes, rashes on their bodies, sore throat and problems with breathing. Only the next day did we receive an emergency mobile clinic and ambulances placed in the affected area.
“We the SDCEA have been calling for an emergency plan for the past 10 years! Furthermore, there were no alarms sounded, no community notification or instructions that the community were to follow after such an incident and no evacuation plan. Join SDCEA and the South Durban Communities as we protest and ask eThekwini for actions and answers,” he added.
Details of the picket
Date: 6 September 2019- Friday
Time: 8:30am
Venue: Corner of Archie Gumede place and M12 – (Outside City Health)
For more information contact:
Desmond- 083 982 6939 or
Bongani- 083 883 4302/ bongani@sdceango.co.za
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