Sleeping with one eye open has been a norm for south Durban residents residing alongside these explosive industries and chemical storage facilities.
With June being World Environment month, it is significant and should be crucial to all humans. “However to us south Durban residents and other communities residing adjacent to polluting or mining companies, it is a total disregarded month by our government, they undermine the month by touring areas and talking about domestic waste and ignoring the real source causing the devastating health and environmental problems in our society,” said SDCEA air quality officer, Bongani Mthembu.
READ: SDCEA calls for emergency evacuation plan
“Government has been very lenient towards non-compliant industries for years and that has caused industries to be law unto themselves, and a deliberate violation of section 24 (a ) in the South African constitution, that guarantees all South Africans a right to a clean environment that is not harmful to their health or well being,” said Bongani.
According to Bongani, there are 14 monitoring stations in Durban, 80 per cent of them are not operational for the past five years or more due to lack of prioritising from eThekwini’s health department.
READ: SDCEA welcomes R4billion contract termination
South Durban is among other areas highly impacted by industrial pollution. “These areas have for years been problematic but the government has been dragging its feet and lacking law enforcement on these culprits. The industrial mandate is to their shareholders solely maximising profits at all cost. Who is going to protect the people if the government is failing to do their constitutional mandate?” asked a concerned Bongani.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
