Parliament, Thursday, 12 August 2021 – The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries yesterday conducted an oversight visit to the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) warehouse in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The purpose of the visit was to ascertain the impact of the social unrest on the environment, especially the burning of forests and warehouses, in particular the UPL warehouse in Umhlanga.
The committee received a joint briefing from the Department of the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; the KZN Provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs; the Department of Water and Sanitation; eThekwini Municipality as well as the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. These departments operate under the Joint Operation Committee (JOC).
The committee was presented with the background and contexts around the fire that burnt down the UPL warehouse from the night of 12 July 2021, highlighting the impediments that blocked the fire department’s access to the warehouse. The committee was also briefed on the runoff of a cocktail of 1 600 chemicals as a result of the fire, which flowed into the Mhlanga tributary, Mhlanga estuary and onto the beach, leaving a pungent smell, discolouring the water and killing aquatic life.
The committee noted the joint departmental operation that set up a team of specialists to manage and remedy the situation, which is still ongoing.
The committee raised several concerns about the contradictory reports on compliance certificates, the inventory of chemicals and cooperation with UPL. The pressing concern was the potential impact on the lives of people living in the vicinity of the warehouse. The committee was told in response that investigations are ongoing, and reports will be given to the committee upon completion.
The committee also listened to the concerns of stakeholders present during the oversight. The stakeholders voiced their experiences with water and air pollution, and the government response. The committee was informed of the short-term effects felt by community members, which included shortness of breath, intermittent asthma, polluted irrigation water for vegetable gardens and the closure of schools. The stakeholders wanted to be involved in the work of the joint departmental operating committee, as they are directly affected and interested in contributing to solutions.
The committee resolved that there should be a platform to enable the participation of the communities and representatives of UPL, and that stakeholders who could not be present today should send their input to the committee in writing. The committee also resolved that there should be a thorough report looking into the human impacts, including potential developments of chronic conditions as a result of this incident. The committee also believes that discussions are required on compensation for affected community members and that human and financial resources should be made available to respond to the recommendations from the ongoing investigations.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES, MR FIKILE XASA.
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