SOUTH Durban community activists laud the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to charge EnviroServ for its foul emissions.
The EnviroServ Group was criminally charged by the NPA for activities at the company’s Shongweni landfill site.
Protestors voiced their anger at the foul odour emanating from the site, while in the South, communities expressed concern about the dumping of waste via the Southern Wastewater Treatment Works (SWTW) into a marine outfall pipe.
While the charges brought by the NPA relate only to the odour in Shongweni, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) believes the decision to criminally prosecute is a step towards making companies culpable for their actions.
“We as SDCEA look forward to the court case as this will set a precedent that no matter how powerful you think you are, justice will prevail and those who believe they can get away with their blatant atrocities will find there is always a comeback where they can be held accountable for past illegal actions,” said SDCEA co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa.
“In view of certain agreements concluded with the DEA as recently as 15 February, we believe the NPA’s decision is premature, has omitted to consider a number of relevant considerations put to the department and will therefore be opposed,” said EnviroServ Group CEO, Dean Thompson.
“We have been in a consultative process with the authorities for four months now, and an agreed process has been in place which only ends in April.
The charges therefore come as a surprise to us as we are still awaiting reports by the independent experts which will contain conclusive facts that inevitably will have a significant impact on the matter. Since this matter is now before the court, however, it is sub judice. We have full confidence that our technical and legal team will clear the company name.
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