Blue Scorpions act against a Free State dairy that dumps dead cattle on the banks of a river
The Department of Water Affairs has instructed owners of the Estina Dairy in Vrede, Free State,to exhume an estimated 30 dead cattle they buried on the banks of a local river and incinerate them. The department is also considering laying charges against the dairy for contravening the National Water Act for dumping dead cattle within meters of the stream.
This comes after members of the public complained to the department about an uncovered mass grave in which the dairy is alleged to have thrown in about thirty cattle carcasses that had died of unknown diseases on the bank banks of a river, which exposed the river to seriouspollution. The stream runs into Atlas Dam which is a few kilometres outside Vrede.
Following the complaints by the public, a team from the department’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (Blue Scorpions), went to investigate and found the fresh mass grave about two meters next to the stream. The Manager of the dairy, MrChansad Prasad, admitted to the Blue Scorpions that his company recently buried the carcasses who fell ill and died.
Mr Nigel Adams, head of the Blue Scorpions, yesterday said they were shocked by the sight of the mass grave which poses a serious threat to the rivers and to the downstream users. Adams said their investigation found that the grave was left uncovered for weeks and members of the public complained about the unbearable stench that came from the grave. The dairy only covered the grave after they realized that the smell might cause them trouble from the authorities.
“Consequently, we are investigating the dairy for operating without a water use licence which should be issued by our department in terms of the National Water Act. We are also considering laying charges for dumping carcasses next to the river in violation of the Act and the National Environmental Management Act,” said Adams.
The Minister of Water Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, was very angry after reading details of the Blue Scorpions and said that heads must roll.
“We cannot tolerate anyone putting the lives of our people and the environment at such risk. Clearly, owners of the dairy think they come can just run their business without obeying the law. If it means closing down the company, so be it.. The lives of our people are more important than profits,” Molewa said.
