THE Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) had not taken any action in relation to the manganese storage and logistics industry in Nelson Mandela Bay.
This is according to a written response to questions submitted to the Minister in Parliament.
In her response published on May 12, DFFE Minister Barbara Creecy said that the Environmental Management Inspectors from the department conducted inspections in response to complaints concerning manganese pollution and other related issues within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan {NMBM) Municipality at Vuka Mzansi Holdings and Tradekor (PTY} LTD in January 2021 and August 2022 respectively.
“The reports from the aforementioned inspections indicated that activities at both companies fall outside the mandate of DFFE as they did not meet the threshold that would require authorisations in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations,” said the response.
Creecy said questions should be directed to the relevant member of the mayoral committee in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
Redirecting responsibility to the municipality, Creecy said that the DFFE had not issued any environmental approvals for the manganese storage and logistics industry in Nelson Mandela Bay as it falls outside the mandate of the DFFE.
She said that these activities fall within the municipality’s mandate in terms of the municipal by-laws under the Port Elizabeth Zoning Schemes as scheduled activities. The Eastern Cape Industrial & Business News is following up with the NMBM.
