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An unknown black liquad seeps into the sea at the Bluff, south of Durban. Picture: supplied
The eThekwini municipality has come under fire for failing to trace the source of a large stream of dark liquid which stained the sea next to the Bluff to such an extent that it was visible from the sky.
Responding to queries from The Mercury, a spokesman for the municipality’s pollution department said that water samples collected from the mouth of the Umlaas canal on January 27 did not appear to be toxic, and that the source of the pollution could not be found.
However, South Durban environmental activist Desmond D’Sa said he was astonished that a municipality with highly qualified staff seemed unable to trace the source of the pollution, especially when there had been repeated cases of similar pollution at Cuttings beach over several years.
Last week, pollution department spokesman Chris Fennemore confirmed that officials had collected water samples for laboratory analysis on Friday afternoon.
In a statement at the weekend, Fennemore said it appeared that the pollution problem had “pretty much cleared” by the time the samples were taken.
“The water was shown not to be toxic. The results indicated that the water sampled did not present any threat to public health. The source could not be ascertained.”
However, D’Sa called for a more thorough investigation into the incident.
List
“If eThekwini cannot find a solution to these problems, then they will continue indefinitely.
“It seems to us that either the municipality knows who the culprit is but won’t reveal their identity, or that they are not doing the job properly.”
According to D’Sa, members of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance have a long list of dates and times of similar pollution problems in the vicinity of Cuttings beach.
These included at least six cases in 2010, three cases in 2011 and two cases last year involving dark blue or black dye problems. - The Mercury
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Anonymous, wrote
hey mike, all fingers pointing back at u and the corrupt way u ran the municipality, u better commit suicide dude, they coming for you sorry ass, cuaght up with u and all your shady deals, how does ur family live knowing that they living on stolen money, and all they have was acquired through ur corrupt deals
Anonymous, wrote
I wonder why the ANC led government is blamed for everything. Is it the ANC led government that placed residents closer to the major refineries and closer to the sea? Sometimes talking without understanding is a problem. The fact that we know cuttings beach is does not mean you will identify the source easily - not unless we want to blame the refineries as always.!
Anonymous, wrote
The caption reads that an unknown 'liquad' is seeping in into the bay! My spellcheck does not recognise this word.
DougieB, wrote
merewent citizen, wrote
I know that canal only too well from fishing in the cuttings beach for decades, for authority to say they do not know where its coming from is a very big fabrication and a load of bull, its apparently obvious, the sea stain is coming from the small canal next to the umlaas canal as u can see from the picture above... that small canal leads straight to the refinery, verify with google maps!!! let environmentalists curb the usage of the canal from the engen refinery, probably all problems may be solved!!! what would happen to te marine life in that beach, i fail to fathom...
naked eyes, wrote
When you are too busy stealing nothing becomes known to you even if your house is on fire you may end up burning in it such is the demon of thuggery and corruption. All thanx to the ANC govt. useless, incompetent,uneducated parasites
(i)Ratepayer, wrote
if sutcliffe had spent more time upgrading skills, technology and methodolody as opposed to psg our money down the drain with sect 36 projects this may not happen. the 'pollution' dept appear paralysed, incapable of carrying out proper investigation - ie why not sample back eddies, etc up the canal which when analysed may give similar samples which indicates how far up or down the pollution starts. soooorrry but these pollution 'experts' look more like rabbits in the headlight!! bufoons!
(i)Ratepayer, wrote
if sutcliffe had spent more time upgrading skills, technology and methodolody as opposed to psg our money down the drain with sect 36 projects this may not happen. the 'pollution' dept appear paralysed, incapable of carrying out proper investigation - ie why not sample back eddies, etc up the canal which when analysed may give similar samples which indicates how far up or down the pollution starts. soooorrry but these pollution 'experts' look more like rabbits in the headlight!! bufoons!
badballie, wrote
Of course as usual eThekwini municipality is simply trying to dodge the bullet, personal experience, not to mention what every company operating in the Durban area already knows is that the municipality has the resources and ability to trace any spill back to its point of origin as the large fines issued to various companies shows, which begs the question what is really going on, is somebody being paid to look the other way, or is it a municipal or government concern that is responsible for the waste being flushed into the sea. For all the big talk Durban cannot even try to apply for blue flag status until this is resolved as, as a "law abiding citizen" it is my duty to ensure that whatever is done is done in accordance with the law.
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