Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs says teams are working around the clock to address the contamination of the Msunduzi river in Pietermaritzburg.
The department jumped into action this week after a major oil spill at the Willowton Group factory.
Thousands of fish have since started washing up on the banks of the river.
MEC Nomusa Dube Ncube says they are shocked and disappointed at the incident.
“We have sent our team from the Environmental Department to ensure that there is a proper investigation into how this incident came about,” said Dube-Ncube.
“We want to ensure that there has been compliance with the rules of the Environmental Act. We will ensure that they are adhered to.”
“If there is any breach in terms of compliance, we will have to make sure that whoever has breached compliance will have to be fined or charged. They will have to be responsible.”
Meanwhile, the Willowton Group says it has launched an investigation into what caused several of its tanks to collapse and is focused on remedial and rehabilitation action.
Authorities are urging communities not to come into contact with or drink water from between the spillage site and Inanda dam.
