PRESS
STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH AFRICA
03
December 2021
Cornubia
arson attack: UPL will be making a written submission to the SAHRC
UPL
South Africa will be making a written submission to the South African Human
Rights Commission (SAHRC) following yesterday’s hearing, which focused on the
arson attack on its leased Cornubia warehouse on the 12th of July -
as part of the SAHRC’s investigation into the widespread violence and looting
that spread through parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in mid-July this year.
PRESS
STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH AFRICA
03
December 2021
Cornubia
arson attack: UPL will be making a written submission to the SAHRC
UPL
South Africa will be making a written submission to the South African Human
Rights Commission (SAHRC) following yesterday’s hearing, which focused on the
arson attack on its leased Cornubia warehouse on the 12th of July -
as part of the SAHRC’s investigation into the widespread violence and looting
that spread through parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in mid-July this year.
UPL
was inexplicably not invited to provide evidence during yesterday’s hearing and
therefore was not given an opportunity to respond to statements made by University
of KwaZulu-Natal Professor Rajen Naidoo and Blackburn Village community member
Kwanele Msizazwe, many of which, were false, misleading or inaccurate.
Most
importantly, UPL has sought expert opinion in terms of its compliance with the
relevant legislation and contests the findings of the Department of Forestry,
Fisheries and the Environment’s preliminary report and will be responding in
the appropriate forum. However, it stands by the fact that no level of
compliance would have prevented the spill that resulted from the arson attack
on the 12th of July and the inability of law enforcement, emergency
services and private spills teams to respond to the incident timeously, due to
the breakdown of law and order in the area.
Furthermore,
since the attack, UPL has done everything possible to mitigate the impact of
the chemical spill in the area. This includes spending R297 million on cleanup and
rehabilitation operations. It is pleased that these extensive efforts are
showing success with signs of new vegetation growing and wildlife returning to
the area surrounding the site.
UPL
has also continued to monitor the impact of the spill on human health in
surrounding communities and remains committed to working with the eThekwini
Department of Health to address any health concerns held by members of the
Blackburn community, which relate directly to the arson attack and spill. UPL
cannot however be expected to fill the service delivery vacuum left by years of
neglect of this community by local authorities.
Since
the attack UPL has worked openly and transparently with the relevant government
authorities including providing regular reports on the work being done and
status of the surrounding area. UPL hopes that, in the interests of fairness
and due process, the SAHRC will accept its written submission in order to
respond to the serious allegations made against it at yesterday’s hearing and
to submit its own evidence on the violent arson attack and the aftermath.
ENDS///
Please attribute quotes to Japhet Ncube, spokesperson for UPL
South Africa
Please note that UPL South Africa (Pty) ltd is the correct name of the
company. It is not United Phosphorus Ltd.
Media Enquiries:
Thabi Ndhlovu
061 993 6672
