Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork

Chapter 3: The politics of wasteThe workshop similarly castigated government officials for incompetence while KaderAsmal, the first ANC minister of Water Affairs, was blasted for “inconsistent andcontradictory statements” tailored to different audiences. Participants demanded thatmanagers be held liable for damages resulting from their activities, that toxic wastesbe tracked from producers to disposal and the information be made public, and that,if government could not or would not prosecute offenders, the public should be ableto do so. 23In summary, activists were now demanding:- Coherent policy governing waste ahead of any new developments;- Rigorous regulation and enforcement at existing sites;- A waste information system with compulsory reporting by hazardous or generalwaste producers and managers and open to the public scrutiny; and- A serious programme for reducing waste.Toxic waste tradeAs these fenceline battles raged, the industry was lobbying for government to allowimports. Literally hours before the first democratic elections in March 1994, governmentrushed to sign the Basel Convention on hazardous waste trading 24 with qualificationsdesigned to allow toxic waste imports to South Africa. The DEAT, under a NationalParty minister in the post-apartheid Government of National Unity, then introducedpolicy – effectively written by industry – to permit the trade. Earthlife mounted apublic campaign while EJNF led a delegation that included unions and civics toappeal against the decision. They were rebuffed by the DEAT’s Director General.Polelo Magane of the Chemical Workers Industrial Union (CWUI) commented: “Wedo not agree … that you can only protect the environment and health of workers aslong as it does not affect economic growth.” 25The Basel Convention, meanwhile, had become a battle ground between theproponents of free trade, led by the US, and those seeking to ban the toxic wastetrade altogether. In a notorious internal memo, senior World Bank official Lawrence23 Chris Albertyn, Help us Minister Asmal, we are being dumped on, EJNF Newsletter, No.6, Winter 1995.24 To give its full title: The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and theirDisposal.25 Quote in Toxic waste: government rejects EJNF demands, EJNF Newsletter, No.4, Summer 1994/95.Wasting the Nation - groundWork - 45 -