The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has made a U-turn on its proposal to give manganese ore handlers a 12-month grace period and instead wants them to shut down immediately.
The illegal handlers will have to close shop until they comply with the new standard operating procedure (SOP) that was approved by councillors at an economic development committee meeting on Tuesday.
It will, however, first have to be endorsed by the council before being enforced.
The health and safety dangers of manganese dust pollution and the damage to road infrastructure caused by often overloaded trucks have led to vociferous demands that the authorities take action.
The problem is particularly severe in the industrial area of Markman, where pavements have been damaged by overloaded manganese trucks and ore piles up along roadways.
The municipality’s proposal to issue manganese operators with a rectification moratorium was revealed during an economic development committee meeting in May.
The moratorium was never endorsed by the council and after obtaining a legal opinion the metro has changed course.
A report presented to the committee on Tuesday revealed that it was not legal for a business to continue to operate while applying for environmental licensing.
“[Instead] they should stop immediately until they have its approval in place.
“It was further advised that Transnet had also undertaken not to accept manganese from an operator operating illegally.”
Residents and business owners have slammed the manganese industry in waves of fury about the effects of stockpiling and the way the ore is being transported.
Ore rocks flying off open-haulage lorries, long fleets of trucks blocking traffic and damaging infrastructure, and ore dust staining roads and verandas have caused an outcry.
According to the report, the municipality held an oversight visit in Markman and two operators were ordered to halt work due to a lack of air pollution controls.
Several other businesses were fined.
ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom said there was only one legal business operating in Markman and others failed to comply with environmental and other regulations.
He said while the businesses contributed to the economy, it was exposing residents to a health hazard.
“It has been reported that air inhaled contaminated with manganese is a health hazard and there are residents who live two to three kilometres away.
“Transnet is not monitoring this at all,” he said.
He said roads were left destroyed and to repair them would require taxpayers’ money.
Grootboom said the standard operating procedure was pointless as many businesses continued to operate in the metro illegally.
“Those handlers that opened during the start of Covid-19 should have been closed down.
“Yes, it is job creation but the dust participles inhaled cause harm,” he said.
During the hard lockdown in March 2020, several non-compliant manganese handlers had set up shop in the area.
Grootboom suggested that public health and also safety and security take part in future meetings dealing with the handlers.
Acting executive director Mpho Pebane said officials were still exploring the health and economic effects brought about by the sector.
Committee chair and AIM councillor Khusta Jack recused himself during the debate due to a conflict of interest.
DA councillor Renaldo Gouws acted as interim chair for the duration of the debate.
Gouws said that the standard operating procedure should be implemented to curb lawlessness.
However, he cautioned that the procedure was something that should be reviewed and updated when required.
This, he said, would make it a working document.
“This will ensure that there are no loopholes and that the operators are always kept on their toes.
“This would ensure that complying is easier than not complying.”
Gouws said the minimal oversight over manganese operators had left Markman in a sorry state.
He said it was the first sight of the Bay for tourists travelling by boat or plane as the manganese ore dust was transported through the intersection of Settlers Freeway and Walmer Boulevard.
Gouws said while the sector was relatively “dirty”, operators should understand what effect their product had on a person and their property, as well as the municipal infrastructure.
“We can’t allow for profits to be placed above human life.”
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