Findings of Green Scorpions Environmental law compliance campaign in the Western Cape

5 Oct 2010

The Green Scorpions conducted environmental law compliance campaign inspections at five sites in the Western Cape last week, 27 September to 1 October, and found the following transgressions. 

Preliminary findings at the Eskom Safari Substation are that Eskom has commenced with construction without approval of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and construction activities are occurring outside the development footprint. Furthermore, the appointed Environmental Control Officer (ECO) does not keep records of monitoring and audits as required by the authorisation.

The upgrade of the East Fort Water Scheme by Knysna Municipality has been placed on hold until funding has been sourced. However Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) observed that the municipality never appointed an ECO to monitor the initial work which had been undertaken as required by the authorisation.

Construction of the Transnet Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant is still underway and Transnet has appointed the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to conduct baseline monitoring as well as to develop a monitoring programme to assess the impact of brine discharge into the environment to be implemented once the plant is operational. An ECO has been appointed on site to monitor the project; however documents to demonstrate compliance with conditions of the authorisation were not readily available.

At the construction of Kwanokuthula 66/22Kv substation and relocation of power lines in Plettenberg Bay, EMIs observed a large spillage of fuel at the construction site which has been there for a while and clean-up measures have not been put in place. EMIs also observed unauthorized construction of a power line on a wetland drainage line. Soil stockpiles storage area as well as the construction site is not demarcated. In addition, alien vegetation has not been cleared on site and there is ponding of water at the construction site. EMIs also established that there has been deviation from the original project description which was not approved by the Department.

Public Works has ceased all activities of the illegal construction at the Langebaan Military Base as instructed in the Compliance Notice by the Department and there is compliance with the notice. EMI will this week proceed to KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State to conduct inspections from 4 October until 8 October 2010. 

The sites that will be inspected in KwaZulu-Natal based on the risk prioritization process are; the Transnet National Multi-Product pipe-line from Jameson Park to Durban; construction of Bhanga Nek Primary School in Kosi Bay; construction of Enkovukeni Primary school in Kosi Bay, construction of Western Shores Road and Entrance Gate in iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the construction of public Hide at Mfezane Pan. 

In the Free State the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) Bloemfontein Airport Access road will be inspected. 

Following the inspection, the EMIs will consolidate their preliminary findings at the various sites. Once the findings have been consolidated, decisions will be taken in terms of the type of enforcement action that is required with regards to non-compliances.

Members of the public are urged to report environmental transgressions to 0800 205 005.

For media queries contact:
Albi Modise 
Cell: 083 490 2871 
or
Moses Rannditsheni
Cell: 082 448 2450

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
5 Oct 2010