Durban South communities want compensation from oil refineries for alleged pollution

The community of Wentworth and surrounding areas such as Bluff, Jacobs and Merewent gathered at a meeting held by the Presidential Climate Commission, where they discussed the dangers that the oil refinery is posing to their health and vegetation, at the Wentworth community hall. Picture Tumi Pakkies/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Mar 24, 2022

DURBAN - COMMUNITIES south of Durban are demanding compensation for allegedly enduring years of pollution in the area.

Residents were speaking during a meeting at Austerville Hall with the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), which is visiting communities allegedly affected by fossil fuels and pollution.

Desmond D’Sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) said: “Innocent people are suffering from pollution. There has been an increase in asthma cases and sickness. There has never been anything done to give back to the community and to also ensure that there are employment opportunities for our community members.”

Allan Holmes of the South Durban Basin said that after years of experiencing pollution and sickness they wanted the oil refineries to give back to their communities. “We want a training centre for our people, rehabilitation centre and a 24-hour clinic. We were promised 5 000 jobs for members of our community by the oil refineries and have not seen any.”

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he was disappointed at the speed at which the government was addressing climate change.

“Why are we not stopping the burning of fossil fuels and moving to clear renewable energy to create jobs for our people?”

Ravin Brijlal of the Clairwood Ratepayers’ Association said that they had been fighting the battle in Clairwood for the past 60 years. “Clairwood used to have about 50 000 people residing there; we have dwindled down to about 5 000. Our main gripe is truckers and illegal businesses.”

Melissa Fourie of the PCC said the organisation was trying to develop a just transition framework for climate change and fossil fuels.

“We are going out to people in particular to communities that are affected by fossil fuels industries which are here in Durban, then communities that are affected by climate change. We are trying to visit as many communities as possible to hear what they think and what they want done. South Durban has always been a hot spot for environmental impacts, they’ve borne the burden of fossil fuel pollution for a long time.”

Bobby Peek, also of the PCC, said that oil refineries that were closing needed to do so in an appropriate manner. “The oil refineries need to invest in the closing of rehabilitation and decommissioning of those facilities so it won’t be like mining companies who have left a hole in the ground.”