NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 300.
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 23 CW394E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 27 August 2010
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether the Green Scorpions will take any action against persons
and/or companies for failing to fulfil their obligations regarding the
cleaning up of medical waste which was dumped in the Matjhabeng
Municipality, in the Welkom area, in the Free State; if not, what is
the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether any penalties will be imposed upon the guilty parties for
their failure to comply with the deadlines set for the removal and
disposal of this waste; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details?
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
292. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1) In response to the discovery of the unlawfully buried waste the
Department initiated administrative enforcement against Wasteman in
order to ensure the proper clean up of the medical waste unlawfully
disposed of on 4 (four) properties situated in the Matjabeng municipal
area. Criminal proceedings were also instituted against a number of
individuals involved in the unlawful disposal of this waste.
The deadline for the removal of the waste and the remediation of all of
the affected properties is 28th October 2010. In a feedback report by
the independent specialist dated 20 October 2010, it was confirmed that
the cleanup and remediation of all the affected properties will be
completed by 28th of October 2010. The Department will conduct a final
site inspection with the waste management contractor and the specialist
early next week in order to close this matter. Therefore, although the
criminal prosecution deals with the initial offences involved in the
unlawful burying of the waste, this prosecution will not, at this stage,
relate to the failure to clean up within the required timeframes.
2) As indicated above, it appears as if the cleanup and remediation of the
affected properties will be completed by the 28th of October 2010. In
the event that this is not completed on or before 28th of October 2010,
the Department will approach the High Court to compel Wasteman to
finalise the clean up and would then simultaneously initiate criminal
proceedings for failing to comply with an instruction of the
administrative enforcement notice that was issued.
Non-compliance with this administrative enforcement notice, upon
conviction, carries a penalty of up to a maximum of R5 000 000.00 (five
million rand) fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years
or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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