PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH
AFRICA
16 November 2021
Cornubia
warehouse attack: UPL works with SAPS to bring criminals to book
UPL, one of the leading suppliers of
agricultural inputs to farmers across South Africa, has engaged a former public
prosecutor to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) to bring the
criminals behind the arson attack on its leased Cornubia warehouse on the 12th of July to book.
To date no arrests have been made in
relation to the looting and arson
attack on the warehouse, which
formed part of the widespread criminality and violence that engulfed
KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng in mid-July this year.
PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH
AFRICA
16 November 2021
Cornubia
warehouse attack: UPL works with SAPS to bring criminals to book
UPL, one of the leading suppliers of
agricultural inputs to farmers across South Africa, has engaged a former public
prosecutor to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) to bring the
criminals behind the arson attack on its leased Cornubia warehouse on the 12th of July to book.
To date no arrests have been made in
relation to the looting and arson
attack on the warehouse, which
formed part of the widespread criminality and violence that engulfed
KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng in mid-July this year.
UPL has been committed to doing everything
possible to deal with the fallout of this unprecedented and unpredictable
attack. This has included spending over R267 million (to date) to deal with the
chemical spill that resulted from the warehouse being deliberately set on
fire. We are pleased that this clean-up operation, which saw 130 people
working around the clock over the past few months, has successfully contained
the spill, with eThekwini municipality reopening the beaches on the 2nd of November.
UPL has provided statements and evidence
to the SAPS investigating officers in relation to the attack. UPL has also
handed over CCTV
footage showing looters
breaking into the warehouse premises, stealing various items from the buildings
and also what appears to be looters collecting material which may have been
used by them to set the property alight. Many of the people in the footage were
not wearing masks and are therefore easily identifiable and so it hopes that
this evidence will assist the SAPS with their investigations and lead to
arrests.
With very few perpetrators who had
participated in the widespread looting and violence in July having been
convicted to date, UPL will continue to assist the SAPS where it can, so the
criminals responsible for the warehouse attack, and the subsequent spill caused
by the unrest, face the full might of the law.
UPL will also carry on working closely with
all government authorities, civil society and communities on its remediation and rehabilitation
programmes in the affected areas.
And it will continue providing local farmers with
the vital inputs that they require to contribute to the country’s overall food
security.
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
