Medical waste found dumped and exposed to the environment and wildlife at the Eiland resort in Upington, was reported to the Green Scorpions by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape.
Henk Opperman, DA Cllr and Caucus Leader of the Dawid Kruiper Municipality says: “Boxes of medical waste were discovered by myself and my fellow councillor, Flip van der Steen, during a routine oversight inspection to the resort on Wednesday. The waste, including a number of filled boxes, was discovered outside chalet number 39.”
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“The Eiland facility previously served as a Covid-19 quarantine site. It, however, closed its doors in this capacity at the end of October last year. It is uncertain whether the medical waste has been standing there since then, or if it was later dumped at the resort. Either way, there can be no question about the potential danger of the waste lying out there, in the open.”
“Aside from potential transmission of infectious diseases to humans, the monkeys at the resort have already climbed into the waste and may already have been exposed to harmful material.”
“Dumping of medical waste is a criminal offence and whoever, or whichever department, is responsible for this careless action, must be firmly dealt with.”
“The DA has submitted evidence of the dumped waste to the Green Scorpions. We trust that they will speedily investigate this matter and determine who the perpetrators are, that they can be held accountable for their careless actions.”
“Improperly disposed of medical waste not only endanger the general public but the environment too. With a pandemic already on our hands, we cannot afford another outbreak of diseases caused by the failure of people to comply with the lawful disposal of medical waste,” Opperman concludes.
Tags: Upington