UPL calls for the re-opening of Durban beaches
Company, United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), has called on the eThekwini Metro in KwaZulu-Natal to re-open the beaches that remain closed after the chemical spillage in July following the fire at its factory that was caused by looters.
UPL spokesperson Mathanda Ncube says they have written to the provincial department to raise the issue.
“UPL’s legal team has written to the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Environment (EDTEA) expressing its concern over the continued delay in reopening the beaches.”
The letter by UPL comes after a peer review of the report that was submitted to the Department on 24 September on the outcomes into the investigations into the spill.
Ncube says that all necessary information has been supplied in order for authorities to determine that the beaches are safe to be reopened.
“The report presented the results of a chemical analysis of the beaches and sea water at the beginning of September and concluded that all the beaches and ocean outside a 1km exclusion zone, north, south and east of the mouth pose an extremely low chemical risk to the public regardless of whether the estuary mouth is open or closed.”
“We are therefore concerned that the decision to reopen the beaches is being unnecessarily delayed and have urged EDTEA to urgently expedite this process so that these beaches can once again be enjoyed by the public,” adds Ncube.
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