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The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Underground blaze at illegal dumpsite drags on, raising health fears
AN underground fire at an illegal dumpsite on Gum Tree Road in Sea Cow Lake has been smouldering since mid-June and solutions on how to extinguish it are yet to be found. The area's Ward councillor, Andrew Akkers, wrote to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), accusing authorities of failing to protect residents' constitutional rights to a safe and healthy environment. Related story: Toxic smoulder takes over Sea Cow Lake The fire, burning since early June on private land in Gum Tree Road in Sea Cow Lake, affects multiple communities, including Kenville, Sea Cow Lake, Effingham Heights, Avoca, and Greenwood Park, as well as parts of neighbouring Ward 36. 'The situation constitutes a violation of our constitutional rights,' Akkers wrote in his complaint, citing residents' right to an environment not harmful to health (Section 24 of the Constitution) and the right to access health care services (Section 27). According to Akkers, illegal dumping has plagued the site for more than a decade, with rubbish now spilling into a protected D'MOSS conservancy area, threatening ecologically sensitive land. Efforts to extinguish the fire have hit multiple roadblocks. The landfill's towering height, reportedly around 17m, and the unstable terrain, have made it impossible to smother the fire with retardants or to deploy firefighters safely. 'The municipality's inaction constitutes a failure to protect the community from environmental harm,' Akkers said, accusing officials of neglecting their duty to prevent ecological damage and uphold environmental laws. In his letter, Akkers has urged the SAHRC to investigate the fire, determine whether constitutional rights have been breached, and compel state organs to intervene and rehabilitate the land. He also called for affected residents to be given a platform to voice their concerns. 'I sincerely hope the Commission will intervene in this urgent matter to safeguard the rights, imminently endangered health, and dignity of our affected communities,' Akkers said. The SAHRC responded to Akkers stating that it would assess the complaint to determine whether it falls within the mandate of the SAHRC; or whether it should be dealt with by another organisation, institution, statutory body or institution created by the Constitution or any applicable legislation. Health implications Ward 36 resident Crystal Little, who lives in Acutt Avenue, said she has to sleep with room doors closed in an attempt to keep the toxic smell out. 'It smells like rubber and chemicals burning. The stench gets worse towards early morning, around 02:00, and it wakes me up. I have to close all the doors and windows but the smell still creeps in. I cover my head with blankets when I go to sleep. I suffer nose bleeds and battle with a throat burning. Everyone in this area is hoping the matter will be sorted,' she said. Little added that she and other residents are aware that a landslide could occur if the fire department tries to douse the smoulder. 'We have had terrible flooding over the recent years and no avalanche has happened. The safe thing to do is to evacuate everyone living at the bottom of the illegal dump site and for the fire department to spray a fine trickle of continuous water, similar to a soaking rain, in order to stop the toxic matter from burning,' said Little. 'I live in Riverside and I have never experienced air pollution like we have at the moment. It is a pungent acrid smell in which you cannot breathe. It is totally unacceptable that we have to live like this,' said Bruce Forrest. 'That is totally unacceptable to us the citizens and ratepayers residing in the area. The officials are not taking this seriously at all and are just fobbing us off,' he added. eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said the City's Emergency Services, Environmental Health Practitioners, and Air Quality Specialists are working jointly to mitigate the impact of smoke currently emitting from an illegal dumpsite in the Gum Tree Road area. #GumtreeRoad #ToxicFumesDurban #Ward34 ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia @caxtonlocalmedia Three eThekwini Municipality departments were called out to Gumtree Road in Ward 34 last Thursday after residents raised the alarm over toxic fumes emanating from an old illegal dumpsite. Toxic chemicals had been dumped on this site in previous years until Metro SAPS intervened last year and fined the culprit. These chemicals, now underground, is what is burning and expelling toxic fumes into the air. Anil Beekrum, chairman of the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents and Ratepayers Association and vice-chairman for the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Community Policing Forum said he has stopped a vehicles from dumping in the area and reported registration numbers to law enforcement and the City's parks and gardens department. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said: 'A multi-disciplinary operation is working round the clock to alleviate the impact of pollution and restore air quality in the affected areas as swiftly as possible.' #CaxtonLocalMedia For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Watch: Sea Cow Lake fire still burning as toxic smoke chokes residents
AN underground fire at an illegal dumpsite on Gum Tree Road in Sea Cow Lake has been smouldering since mid-June and solutions on how to extinguish it are yet to be found. The area's Ward councillor, Andrew Akkers, wrote to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), accusing authorities of failing to protect residents' constitutional rights to a safe and healthy environment. Related story: Toxic smoulder takes over Sea Cow Lake The fire, burning since early June on private land in Gum Tree Road in Sea Cow Lake, affects multiple communities, including Kenville, Sea Cow Lake, Effingham Heights, Avoca, and Greenwood Park, as well as parts of neighbouring Ward 36. 'The situation constitutes a violation of our constitutional rights,' Akkers wrote in his complaint, citing residents' right to an environment not harmful to health (Section 24 of the Constitution) and the right to access health care services (Section 27). According to Akkers, illegal dumping has plagued the site for more than a decade, with rubbish now spilling into a protected D'MOSS conservancy area, threatening ecologically sensitive land. Efforts to extinguish the fire have hit multiple roadblocks. The landfill's towering height, reportedly around 17m, and the unstable terrain, have made it impossible to smother the fire with retardants or to deploy firefighters safely. 'The municipality's inaction constitutes a failure to protect the community from environmental harm,' Akkers said, accusing officials of neglecting their duty to prevent ecological damage and uphold environmental laws. In his letter, Akkers has urged the SAHRC to investigate the fire, determine whether constitutional rights have been breached, and compel state organs to intervene and rehabilitate the land. He also called for affected residents to be given a platform to voice their concerns. 'I sincerely hope the Commission will intervene in this urgent matter to safeguard the rights, imminently endangered health, and dignity of our affected communities,' Akkers said. The SAHRC responded to Akkers stating that it would assess the complaint to determine whether it falls within the mandate of the SAHRC; or whether it should be dealt with by another organisation, institution, statutory body or institution created by the Constitution or any applicable legislation. Health implications Ward 36 resident Crystal Little, who lives in Acutt Avenue, said she has to sleep with room doors closed in an attempt to keep the toxic smell out. 'It smells like rubber and chemicals burning. The stench gets worse towards early morning, around 02:00, and it wakes me up. I have to close all the doors and windows but the smell still creeps in. I cover my head with blankets when I go to sleep. I suffer nose bleeds and battle with a throat burning. Everyone in this area is hoping the matter will be sorted,' she said. Little added that she and other residents are aware that a landslide could occur if the fire department tries to douse the smoulder. 'We have had terrible flooding over the recent years and no avalanche has happened. The safe thing to do is to evacuate everyone living at the bottom of the illegal dump site and for the fire department to spray a fine trickle of continuous water, similar to a soaking rain, in order to stop the toxic matter from burning,' said Little. 'I live in Riverside and I have never experienced air pollution like we have at the moment. It is a pungent acrid smell in which you cannot breathe. It is totally unacceptable that we have to live like this,' said Bruce Forrest. 'That is totally unacceptable to us the citizens and ratepayers residing in the area. The officials are not taking this seriously at all and are just fobbing us off,' he added. eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said the City's Emergency Services, Environmental Health Practitioners, and Air Quality Specialists are working jointly to mitigate the impact of smoke currently emitting from an illegal dumpsite in the Gum Tree Road area. #GumtreeRoad #ToxicFumesDurban #Ward34 ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia @caxtonlocalmedia Three eThekwini Municipality departments were called out to Gumtree Road in Ward 34 last Thursday after residents raised the alarm over toxic fumes emanating from an old illegal dumpsite. Toxic chemicals had been dumped on this site in previous years until Metro SAPS intervened last year and fined the culprit. These chemicals, now underground, is what is burning and expelling toxic fumes into the air. Anil Beekrum, chairman of the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents and Ratepayers Association and vice-chairman for the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Community Policing Forum said he has stopped a vehicles from dumping in the area and reported registration numbers to law enforcement and the City's parks and gardens department. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said: 'A multi-disciplinary operation is working round the clock to alleviate the impact of pollution and restore air quality in the affected areas as swiftly as possible.' #CaxtonLocalMedia For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Toxic smoulder takes over Sea Cow Lake
THREE eThekwini Municipality departments were called out to Gumtree Road in Ward 34 on Thursday after residents raised the alarm over toxic fumes emanating from an old illegal dumpsite. Also read: Man shot dead in Avoca, motive unknown The area's ward councillor, Andrew Akkers, said a fire broke out at the site about three weeks ago. Although it was contained, the smolder of toxic fumes has not stopped since then. Residents expressed their concerns to him stating that they are worried about the impact it could have on human and animal health. 'We've received a number of complaints from residents who are breathing in these toxic fumes daily. The smell of chemicals in the air is overwhelming. It's a serious health hazard,' said Akkers. 'On Thursday, 26 June I met on site with the City's Pollution Control and Risk Management, Air Quality Team from City Health, Fire and Disaster Management, and Environmental Health. They stated they would put out a media statement that evening but this is yet to happen,' he said Akkers said toxic chemicals had been dumped on this site in previous years until Metro SAPS intervened last year and fined the culprit. Akkers believes that these chemicals, now underground, is what is burning and expelling toxic fumes into the air. He said that the fumes are not only affecting Ward 34, but are also being carried by the wind into neighbouring Ward 36, where more complaints have emerged. 'There are reports of animals becoming ill, and residents experiencing health problems like headaches, nausea, and breathing issues. The situation is unacceptable, and the lack of action from authorities is deeply concerning,' he added. @caxtonlocalmedia Three eThekwini Municipality departments were called out to Gumtree Road in Ward 34 last Thursday after residents raised the alarm over toxic fumes emanating from an old illegal dumpsite. Toxic chemicals had been dumped on this site in previous years until Metro SAPS intervened last year and fined the culprit. These chemicals, now underground, is what is burning and expelling toxic fumes into the air. Anil Beekrum, chairman of the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents and Ratepayers Association and vice-chairman for the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Community Policing Forum said he has stopped a vehicles from dumping in the area and reported registration numbers to law enforcement and the City's parks and gardens department. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said: 'A multi-disciplinary operation is working round the clock to alleviate the impact of pollution and restore air quality in the affected areas as swiftly as possible.' #CaxtonLocalMedia #GumtreeRoad #ToxicFumesDurban #Ward34 ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia – caxtonlocalmedia Illness One of the residents affected by these fumes is Vishal Mothilall. He said the air quality had been affecting him and his wife as well as their pet dog. 'We are continuously coughing and our allergies have been triggered too. We work from home which makes it difficult as doors and windows have to closed at all times. The fumes stick to your clothes and the smell lingers inside the house. We have to sleep with our fan on low throughout the night to circulate the air,' he said. Ratepayers association Anil Beekrum, chairman of the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents and Ratepayers Association and vice-chairman for the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Community Policing Forum said he has stopped a vehicles from dumping in the area and reported registration numbers to law enforcement and the City's parks and gardens department, 'Dumping is rife in this area, not only in Gumtree Road. As the ratepayers' association and CPF, we are doing all that we can with the resourced that we have. We urge residents to report illegal dumping to the relevant authourities. The City can also assist by erecting no dumping sigange and providing skips. This will act as a deterent, ' he said. City response The eThekwini Municipality says a multi-disciplinary team is swiftly working to contain the Sea Cow Lake fumes which have been smoldering perpetually for about two weeks now. 'The City's Emergency Services, Environmental Health Practitioners, and Air Quality Specialists are working jointly to mitigate the impact of smoke currently emitting from an illegal dumpsite in the Gumtree area,' said municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilane. 'The multi-disciplinary operation is working round the clock to alleviate the impact of pollution and restore air quality in the affected areas as swiftly as possible,' she added. In the meantime, the City has offered the following precautionary tips for residents from Gumtree Road and surrounding communities: Keep windows and doors closed; Cover air vents with damp cloths to limit indoor smoke exposure; and Limit outdoor activities until smoke levels subside. 'Residents are encouraged to wait for improved air quality before engaging in outdoor activities. When conditions improve, homes should be aired out to help reduce indoor pollution,' said Sisilane The Health Unit can be contacted on 031 311 3555. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Councillor calls for speedier road repairs in Ward 34
WHILE the recent repair of the Löffelstein retaining wall on Effingham Road has been welcomed by Ward 34 councillor Andrew Akkers, repairs to reinstate roads damaged by burst pipes are not being repaired quickly enough. Akkers said several sections of roads that are yet to be reinstated include Hedley Road, Park Station Road, Temple Road, and Effingham Road. 'In most of these cases it is due to a burst pipe or an underground water leak. In the case with the Löffelstein retaining wall on Effingham Road and Bellhaven Road, residents informed me that the eThekwini Municipality initially dug in the wrong place looking for the leak, causing the problem to exacerbate. The heavy rains in recent months have also affected repairs, if they are done, as backfill is washed away. 'While the retaining wall has now been fixed, there was a gaping hole that kept widening and that was left like that from November last year. This has been replicated on other roads within the Ward, including Rosary Road and Mimosa Road. Once a water leak is repaired, there is far too long a gap for the road and the area to be repaired and reinstated, leading to bigger problems and more expensive costs for the City,' he said. Also read: One person dies in Sim Place Informal Settlement fire While the City has faced a plethora of issues regarding water leaks and burst pipes, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the municipality had set a standard that all burst pipes must be responded to and repaired within 24 hours. 'This will require us to increase our internal capacity, including insourcing Ward-based plumbers. Proactive leak detection in curbing water losses is also being prioritised and we can only achieve this if we deploy technology on our infrastructure. We are also putting more emphasis on quality assurance on the work being done by our plumbers. From now on, when we send plumbers to do repair work, they must tell us what they have found by sending pre and post-work pictures. Through our call centre and other mediums of communication, we will also provide feedback to our customers and check if the work has been done to their satisfaction,' he said in March. Despite this statement, there was no word on how long the reinstatement of damaged roads due to burst pipes would take. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
