Ocean spill outrage

KZN environmentalists have issued scathing condemnation as a steady stream of polluted wastewater gushed from the effluent outfall pipeline at Alkantstrand over the weekend. Aerial images taken on Friday morning showed a dirty, wide band of black water spreading southwards past the harbour entrance at Richards Bay. On Saturday, community activist Sandy Camminga reported the incident to the National Department of Environmental Affairs, Oceans and Coasts, who responded saying that the complaint was receiving urgent attention. The source was apparently at the end of Pipeline A, which extends 4.7km out to sea at a depth of 28 metres. According to the pipeline permit, contributors to the buoyant effluent waste include Nsezi Water Treatment Plant, Mondi, Mpact, South32, Alton macerator, John Ross macerator and Tronox. The content of the effluent, its possible toxicity and the potential effect on marine species is unknown at this stage and authorities plus Mhlathuze Water will have to answer a barrage of questions this (Monday) morning. Among them will be the reporting process and response to pollution emergencies. Representing Coastwatch, renowned environmental consultant and pollution watchdog, Judy Bell on Saturday reacted harshly: ‘We are horrified and disgusted by the pollution visible from the Mhlathuze Water effluent pipelines discharging to sea on behalf of heavy industries in Richards Bay. ‘Yet again, the marine environment is being used by these companies to dump their wastes with no or minimal treatment. ‘Mhlathuze Water’s compliance with their lax licence limits is poor to say the least. ‘There are no consequences for behaving badly, so nothing changes. ‘No effective action has been taken by the regulators to ensure that the dismal performance improves over the decades,’ said Bell. ‘The disdain with which the emitters treat the ocean is evident in this latest incident. As it is visible from the shoreline, the polluters cannot hide it this time. ‘We want to know why this was not reported to DEAFF as required by law and by their licence. Was it not noticed? ‘The root cause is the failure of the state to monitor and enforce legal requirements to protect the sea, which we all rely on for supporting our lives and livelihoods.’ Bell also alerted the office of Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, in an outspoken email, bemoaning the general lack of regulatory monitoring and enforcement.

Gunge spewing into the ocean from the end of the 4.7km effluent pipeline on Friday, spreading far southwards