Durban — Despite the eThekwini Municipality’s promise to investigate and act against Ni-Da trucking company for its alleged failure to stop the manganese spill in Jacobs, south of Durban, business owners say the company continues with its non-compliance.
On Wednesday, business owners again contacted the Daily News and said the spill was continuing and no action was being taken despite promises by the municipality.
One of the business owners said they had witnessed the company truck tipping the remains of the manganese along Laguna Crescent off Teakwood Road.
The businesswoman, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, told the paper that since the paper’s report on Monday where the municipality promised to send the environmental unit officials to investigate, nothing has happened, and the company never seized to tip the poisonous substance on the road along their business premises.
In their interview with the paper last week, business owners said the mineral product was poisoning the air, which had caused them and their staff illnesses such as persistent coughing, skin rash and respiratory problems. Apart from illnesses, they said the manganese soil also caused stormwater drainage system blockages.
“This is really disturbing, and we do not know what to do because it looks like the city was failing or not prepared to act against the company.
Democratic Alliance councillor in eThekwini Sithembiso Ngema said he had been constantly raising the issue with the city’s water quality control and environmental units, but business owners continue to complain to him.
The municipality and the company had not commented at the time of the publishing.
Daily News