PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH
AFRICA
20 October 2021
Cornubia warehouse arson attack:
UPL concerned over the continued delay by eThekwini municipality to open the
beaches
UPL’s legal team has written to the Department of
Economic Development, Tourism and the Environment (EDTEA) expressing its
concern over the continued delay in reopening the beaches which were closed
following the arson attack on its leased warehouse in Cornubia on the 12th
of July as part of the widespread looting that broke out across KwaZulu-Natal.
The fire led to a chemical spill due to emergency services not being able
to immediately respond to the fire as a result of a the complete breakdown of
law and order in the area.
PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH
AFRICA
20 October 2021
Cornubia warehouse arson attack: UPL concerned over the continued delay by eThekwini municipality to open the beaches
UPL’s legal team has written to the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Environment (EDTEA) expressing its concern over the continued delay in reopening the beaches which were closed following the arson attack on its leased warehouse in Cornubia on the 12th of July as part of the widespread looting that broke out across KwaZulu-Natal. The fire led to a chemical spill due to emergency services not being able to immediately respond to the fire as a result of a the complete breakdown of law and order in the area.
The letter follows a meeting last week on the 11th October 2021 between UPL’s team of independent specialists and the Department’s external reviewer who has been appointed to conduct a peer review of the report that was submitted to the Department on 24th of September. The report presented the results of a chemical analysis of the beaches and sea water at the beginning of September and concluded that all the beaches and ocean outside a 1km exclusion zone, north, south and east of the mouth pose an extremely low chemical risk to the public regardless of whether the estuary mouth is open or closed.
At this meeting, UPL’s team of independent specialists provided more detail on the chemical analysis and results and also answered all questions posed by the independent reviewer. The team also provided information on the extensive clean-up operations that have been funded by UPL since the attack and which have cost over R250 million to date.
UPL is of the opinion that all necessary information has been supplied in order for authorities to determine that the beaches are safe to be reopened.
UPL recognises the negative impact of the prolonged
closure of the beaches on tourism establishments in the area as well as other
economic sectors such as the local fishing industry.
It is therefore concerned that the decision to reopen the beaches is being unnecessarily delayed and has urged EDTEA to urgently expedite this process so that these beaches can once again be enjoyed by the public.
UPL remains committed to continue working closely with government, civil society and surrounding communities in order to mitigate the impact of the fire and chemical spill and move forward after the unfortunate and unforeseeable events of the 12th of July.
ENDS///
Please attribute quotes to Japhet Ncube, spokesperson for UPL South Africa
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