Residents of Durban North are stepping up their fight against persistent air pollution stemming from a smouldering fire in the Gumtree Road area. A public meeting held on Monday, 14th July, in uMngeni Park, saw approximately 30 to 50 concerned citizens gather, alongside a special visit from Paolo DeFaggio of Communities Against Pollution (CAP).
During the meeting, DeFaggio offered insights into air pollution trends around Durban, while discussions also focused heavily on the ongoing fire. Ward 36 councillor, Heinz de Boer, explained the community’s plan to take matters into their own hands.
“We are intending, throughout our local community, to crowd-fund and to establish some air quality monitoring stations, which will then be plugged into the network that CAP runs, and they will be able provide very detailed data on the pollution levels that we are experiencing,” said de Boer.
De Boer highlighted the challenges faced by the fire department due to the fire’s location. He also expressed grave concerns about the presence of an informal settlement in the affected area, stating it “put their lives in massive risks.”
“We have a very good legislation and between province and the municipality, there should be action there. And that is what people are demanding, they want to see action. That was the sentiment that came out very strongly last night from the community. It’s not good enough that the thing keeps on burning,” explained the councillor.
In a proactive move last week, ward 34 councillor, Andrew Akkers, contacted the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). He believes the slow progress in addressing the fire is violating residents’ rights. In his email to the SAHRC, Akkers detailed the complexities of extinguishing the blaze, noting it “cannot be flooded due to risk of landslides or mudslides, it cannot be excavated for fear of collapse/slides, it cannot be smothered with other retardants due to its inaccessible depths (the landfill is estimated to be 17 metres high).”
Akkers further requested the SAHRC to investigate the ongoing fire and its root causes, determine if state obligations under the constitution and environmental law have been breached, facilitate action from responsible state organs to resolve the fire and rehabilitate the affected land, provide a platform for affected residents to be heard and involved in environmental and health decisions, and recommend or initiate appropriate remedial action in the interest of justice and community well-being.
