Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork

Chapter 3: The politics of wasteIn South Africa, Thor promised to stop mercury-based production in 1995 but itresumed production of mercuric chloride for export to US transnational BordenChemicals in 1997 and was suspected of already having broken its promise a yearearlier. More workers showed symptoms of mercury poisoning in 1997 and a secondgroup of workers sued the corporation in Britain.Other workers and affected people in the neighbouring community have notbeen compensated. Many ex-workers were hired as casuals and say they were firedwhen they showed symptoms of poisoning. Thereafter, no-one else would employthem. Obtaining adequate compensation remains the priority for ex-workers butgovernment has offered “no meaningful response” to their demands. 17Meanwhile, over 3,500 tonnes of mercury-containing waste remained at Thor’s site,posing a continuing threat to workers and local communities. Most of it is stillthere. The ground at the site remains heavily contaminated. Cattle are reportedto have died from drinking the water well downstream from Thor. Plants next tothe stream are now absorbing the mercury. Considerably further downstream onthe Mgeni River, fish caught in the Inanda Dam have shown “dangerous levels ofmercury” poisoning 18 and the metal is showing in hair samples taken from localpeople by the Medical Research Council. It cannot be demonstrated with certaintythat Thor was the source or that it is the only source. Indeed, it seems that Thor maybe part of a larger mercury pollution crisis, possibly including mercury carried onthe wind from Eskom’s Mpumalanga coal-fired power stations. 19The Davis Commission of enquiry recommended, in 1997, that the waste bedisposed by incineration on site. This was rejected by environmental groups andhealth experts because incineration was likely to compound the problem particularlyas the mercury was mixed with unknown other wastes. Similarly, the option ofburying the waste at Holfontein H:H site in Gauteng is opposed because, likeall other hazardous sites in the country, Holfontein has a history of leaks, spillsand fires. Nevertheless, it appears that contaminated concrete and soil was sent toHolfontein in 2006. The DEAT did not respond to groundWork’s enquiries on17 Rico Euripidou and Bobby Peek, Still nothing happening at Thor, groundWork Newsletter, September 2007.18 Alarming silence, The Mercury, June 21, 2007.19 Tony Carnie, Pollution raises more questions, The Mercury, October 27, 2008.Wasting the Nation - groundWork - 37 -