HEALTH RISK TIME BOMB IN TOXIC SITES ON WEST RAND

There is a ticking time bomb of health risks for thousands of people living in toxic and radioactive areas in the West Rand.

I experienced this myself yesterday when I visited various informal settlements in the Krugersdorp area.

I spent the night in the Tudor Shaft settlement which the National Nuclear Regulator has recommended be removed because radiation levels are 15 times higher than regulatory limits.

But only about 180 people have been moved, and about 5000 people remain in this toxic area.

I saw children playing in soil yellowed by radioactive uranium and other toxic metals from mine tailings. This can lead to birth defects and brain disorders.

Other health risks include polluted air from the mine dumps, poor sanitation and rats running around uncollected rubbish.

I also visited new RDP houses at Sinqobile which have been built too close to mine tailings.

A proper study of radiological areas must be conducted so that there is better planning to avoid new houses in toxic areas. People in informal settlements in unsafe areas like Tudor Shaft must be relocated speedily.

If this is not done, clinics and hospitals will be flooded with people suffering from preventable diseases.

I will be raising this in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, January 25 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter