Smelly Shongweni landfill blamed for sore throats and headaches
Opposition to a smelly landfill in Durban has united residents of both low-income and high-end residential areas, who cite an increase in sore throats, persistent headaches and other ailments. A series of pickets and marches, known as the "toxic trek", have been held in the past few months against EnviroServ Waste Management’s Shongweni landfill site. The last of these protests took place on Saturday and was attended by thousands of protestors from Dassenhoek, KwaNdengezi, Shongweni Dam and Nature Reserve and Cliffdale, as well as surrounding rural areas. Abhorrence for the landfill also struck a chord in the wealthier areas, including Hillcrest, Kloof and Assegay. The protest action culminated in the handing over of a memorandum of demands to EnviroServ, the Environmental Affairs Department and eThekwini Municipality. Residents felt that apart from producing a foul smell, the landfill was also using illegal toxic waste disposal methods that were harming the environment and compromi...
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