Cape Town - Earthlife Africa will lead a protest in the city on Friday against a proposed gold refinery in the Bo-Kaap.
The environmental group has allied itself with concerned residents, saying the City of Cape Town has erred in its assessment that the activity would be in line with the area’s zoning.
Lueven Metals has applied to the Department of Environmental Affairs for a refinery to process scrap metal and old gold for local and export markets.
The property is in the OroAfrica building on Buitengracht - a jewellery manufacturing hub.
Earthlife Africa’s Muna Lakhani said the chemicals that would be used were toxic and the city was unable to monitor two of the most harmful substances - nitrous oxides and hydrogen chloride.
Potential health impacts ranged from respiratory irritation to headaches, reduced lung function and eye irritations.
Children and people with chronic respiratory diseases would be most affected.
“The thought of unmonitored daily emissions or a catastrophic chemical explosion in the historic Bo-Kaap is too horrible to consider,” said Lakhani.
Other possible impacts included water pollution which would be difficult, if not impossible, to monitor.
The protest will take place on the corner of Buitengracht and Bloem streets from 3pm.
Robyne Conway of the Brave Foundation, which assists patients recovering from trauma, has been lobbying residents across the city to object to the application. Court action would also be an option.
“The fact that there are homes, health-care facilities and schools with young children nearby makes the proposed refinery emissions even more problematic,” saidConway.
Residents have objected in letters to the provincial government and the City of Cape Town.
People have until the end of the week to submit objections.
CAPE ARGUS