Residents of Merebank have strongly opposed a proposed bulk storage bitumen facility under consideration by eThekwini Municipality, citing health risks, environmental concerns, and an allegedly flawed public participation process.
The development, proposed by an India-based company trading as Energex (Pty) Ltd, is planned for a site within the residential area of Merebank, commonly known as Chinatown.
Objections intensified following a community engagement meeting held on Thursday, 9 April, at the MTSS Hall in Merebank, which residents say failed to meet the standards of meaningful consultation.
Premilla Deonath, chairperson of the Merewest Community Forum (MCF), said the meeting did not reflect the views of the broader community.
“This meeting with the company and eThekwini is not recognised as legitimate and in no way represents the sentiments of the Merebank community regarding their environment, health and well-being. What was presented as a community engagement was nothing more than a box-ticking exercise to satisfy statutory requirements, with no genuine intention to inform or consult residents,” she said.
Deonath said the limited and selective invitation process excluded many residents from participating.
“Despite requests for broader inclusion, only a small group—mainly those who had already objected—were invited. With just 24 hours’ notice, the process effectively shut out the majority of the community, including elderly residents who do not have access to digital communication platforms and were left unaware of the risks being proposed in their own neighbourhood,” she said.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of substantive information presented during the session.
“There was a brief presentation of approximately 16 minutes, supported by a handful of largely illegible slides, after which residents were expected to make informed decisions on a complex and potentially hazardous development. Critical questions were either vaguely addressed or not answered at all, and requests for further engagement or a reasonable extension were outrightly refused,” she said.
Deonath added that the nature of the proposed facility raised serious safety concerns.
“Bitumen is a hydrocarbon-based byproduct of crude oil refining that is stored and processed at extremely high temperatures, releasing harmful pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogenic substances. These emissions pose both immediate and long-term health risks, including respiratory issues and increased cancer risk, while the operation itself introduces fire hazards, potential environmental contamination, and significant increases in heavy vehicle traffic,” she said.
Concerned resident Lucy Naidoo also criticised the process, describing it as lacking transparency.
“The applicants appear to have applied clandestine measures to facilitate statutory processes, failing to properly engage all relevant stakeholders as required. After only 16 minutes and 20 seconds of presentation, the community was effectively expected to endorse a high-risk industrial operation in a residential area without being given sufficient or accessible information,” she said.
Greg Samuel, another resident who objected to the plant, further alleged that the process exploited procedural gaps.
“The company has been unethical in exploiting loopholes in the application process, while residents are left to bear the consequences. Our objection is grounded in the need to protect our environment, community health and overall well-being,” they said.
Residents have also raised concerns about the impact of increased tanker traffic on road safety and infrastructure, particularly in an area with schools and elderly residents.
Deonath said the refusal to extend the consultation period further demonstrated a disregard for the community.
“The refusal to allow even a short extension makes it clear that corporate timelines are being prioritised over the safety, dignity and rights of residents to make informed decisions about developments that will directly impact their lives,” said Naidoo.
The Merewest Community Forum has formally rejected the proposed development, stating that a hydrocarbon-based bulk storage facility is not appropriate for a residential area.
“We maintain that no such facility, even if limited to storage, belongs in a residential environment. There can be no guarantee of safety, and the risks to our community are far too significant. This type of operation must be located within a properly designated industrial zone, away from homes, schools and vulnerable residents,” Deonath said.
Naidoo and Samuel added that they hope the municipality will give due consideration to residents’ concerns.
“We trust that eThekwini Municipality, recognised as a global leader in climate action, will thoroughly and responsibly adjudicate this application, taking into account the serious environmental and health implications raised by the community,” they said.
Residents are calling for the application process to be halted until a more transparent and inclusive consultation process is undertaken.
