Durban — Another petroleum spill in the Durban South area has left residents frustrated once again.
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) air quality and GIS officer, Bongani Mthembu said that residents using Basil February Road continue to be affected by petroleum products spilled onto the road.
Mthembu said that according to Merebank, Treasure Beach and Wentworth residents, a tanker that exited from Engen refinery spilled large quantities of petroleum products on Basil February Road, on Monday morning, leading to the road being barricaded and motorists being redirected to other routes.
“This incident has occurred a number of times and affected many residents who use this road as a thoroughfare onto the M4 or Lansdowne road. It is shocking to residents of Merebank and Wentworth communities as the refinery is shut and many activities are currently happening on site,” Mthembu said.
He said that it raises many questions as Engen has clouded their operations currently taking place at the refinery in total secrecy and refused to divulge any information as they have done for over 68 years since the refinery was built in 1953. During the apartheid era the company used the National Key Point Act to criminalise any resident whether they be workers or residents from getting any information that affected their health or working conditions.
“This road is notorious for tankers spilling oil products/chemicals for years yet when these incidents happen we don’t hear about the culprits being held accountable,” Mthembu said.
“I was called by residents concerned about the oil spill and arrived at the incident and saw the company Spill Tech truck and seven employees on-site to clean up the spill. Spill Tech Hazardous Waste Management Company was employed to clean up. eThekwini metro police blocked the road and traffic was diverted onto Tara Road. No government official was in attendance on site to monitor the situation,” he said.
Mthembu said that a substantial amount of these chemicals was going into the storm water drains and this would possibly lead into the sea at Cuttings Beach in Merebank, disturbing the marine life and causing fisher forks not to fish in that area.
For the past 28 years of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance being in existence no truck company or petroleum manufacturing company has ever been prosecuted for this gross neglect.
“Companies overload their tankers and spill this excessive cargo on our roads and we know this too well when a few years ago a young life was lost because his car skidded into the back of a tanker after the overfilled tanker spilled the products on the incline,” he said.
“What lessons are learnt, clearly none and it is clear the owners and their tankers will not be prosecuted. Engen’s management attitude of when a tanker leaves their depot or refinery their management cannot be held responsible is passing the buck to the tanker owner and driver.
“It is time the refinery came clean on all the atrocities that have occurred and held responsible for their actions,” Mthembu said.
Engen will be approached for comment.
Daily News