Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 3: The politics of wasteBox 5: UmlaziUmlazi, one of <strong>the</strong> largest black ‘townships’ in South Africa, is an integral part ofDurban but was incorporated into <strong>the</strong> KwaZulu homeland under apar<strong>the</strong>id. Waste-Tech’s hazardous dump was established in <strong>the</strong> 1980s under <strong>the</strong> lax jurisdiction of <strong>the</strong>homeland government while operating as part of south Durban’s industrial economy.It was located on <strong>the</strong> border of Umlazi and <strong>the</strong> Indian area of Isipingo and constructedwithout so much as a lining. It leached toxic waste into <strong>the</strong> Isipingo River while <strong>the</strong>stench of its emissions filled <strong>the</strong> air and forced <strong>the</strong> repeated closure of a neighbouringschool.With <strong>the</strong> democratic transition, <strong>the</strong> dump fell under <strong>the</strong> authority of <strong>the</strong> DWAF andwas classified as a low hazard [H:h] dump. Faced with vociferous protest, <strong>the</strong> ministercalled for a forum to discuss its future. South Durban activists, however, demandedthat <strong>the</strong> dump be closed and refused to join <strong>the</strong> forum until it was agreed that <strong>the</strong> issueto be addressed was its closure. They made this <strong>the</strong> defining issue through sustainingprotest action on <strong>the</strong> streets ra<strong>the</strong>r than in negotiating chambers and by insistingthat <strong>the</strong>ir voice remain autonomous of government, with people defining <strong>the</strong> issuesand <strong>the</strong> terms of <strong>the</strong>ir participation. Hard evidence of DWAF’s collusion in illegaldumping of high hazard waste at <strong>the</strong> site streng<strong>the</strong>ned <strong>the</strong>ir case and <strong>the</strong>ir resolve.Following <strong>the</strong> closure, <strong>the</strong> waste was diverted in three directions. Some was‘de-listed’ – treated and/or reclassified as non-hazardous – and sent to Durban’sBisasar Road municipal site. Some went to Waste-Man’s Bulbul Road H:h site, apoorly constructed dump in <strong>the</strong> Indian area of Chatsworth. Following heavy rainfall,<strong>the</strong> dump subsequently ‘slipped’, releasing toxic clouds into <strong>the</strong> air and a toxic floodinto <strong>the</strong> Umlazi River below. The remainder went to EnviroServ’s Shongweni dumpwhich <strong>the</strong> DWAF quietly upgraded from a general to a H:h landfill.Despite closure, a fourth stream kept coming to Umlazi. Even as closure was ordered,Waste-Tech dug out and lined a new cell at Umlazi. Across <strong>the</strong> valley, <strong>the</strong> Merebankcommunity was meanwhile fighting for <strong>the</strong> closure of Mondi’s toxic ash dump locatedon site at its south Durban paper mill and next to people’s houses. When <strong>the</strong>y finallysucceeded, <strong>the</strong> DWAF allowed <strong>the</strong> ash to be dumped in <strong>the</strong> hole that had convenientlybeen prepared at Umlazi. The hole is now a mountain of ash and <strong>the</strong> final cappingand closure of <strong>the</strong> site commenced only in 2007. This coincided with <strong>the</strong> installationof a ‘multi-fuel burner’ – a euphemism for an incinerator – through which Mondiis recycling its ash along with o<strong>the</strong>r materials. This reduces <strong>the</strong> amount of ash butincreases its toxic load.<strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong> - groundWork - 43 -