Towards the Creation of Healthier City Neighbourhoods for Marginalised Communities in South Africa: a Case Study of the South Durban Industrial Basin in the City of Durban

Abstract

This paper critically evaluates efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of pollution on residential communities that are located next to polluting chemical industries in the South Durban Basin area, in the city of Durban, South Africa. The economic agenda ignored socio-environmental imperatives as poor residential communities and polluting chemical industries were juxtaposed, which made the area prone to environmental and health hazards. Empirical research is conducted focusing on the relations among industry, the people, housing, health and the neighbourhood built environment. The paper notes that efforts to create healthier livable city neighbourhoods in Africa, and South Africa in particular, are hampered by the superimposition of industrial capitalism over social and environmental aspects of sustainable development. In this context, the paper argues marginalised neighbourhoods need to proactively articulate their environmental concerns in ways that foster the cooperation and remedial action of other stakeholders of urban governance especially the state and private sector.

Utility of an alternative method (to USEPA Method 1613) for analysis of priority persistent organic pollutants in soil from mixed industrial–suburban areas of Durban, South Africa

“…Five sampling sites were selected within the SDB area. Due to the presence of heavy industrial activity, the area has been known to be a hotspot for toxic chemicals, particularly atmospheric‐borne pollutants and waste originating from improper disposal (Adebayo et al, 2013; Moodley et al, 2021). The SDB is a pollution high‐risk area as it consists of a mix of residential areas as well as three large petrochemical refineries (FFS oil refinery, Engen crude oil refinery, and SAPREF crude oil refinery), paper mill plants (Mondi), numerous hazardous chemical storage facilities (some of which recently spewed large amounts of dangerous chemicals in July 2021 causing one of the largest environmental disasters in South Africa), hazardous waste dumps, as well as a number of crude oil‐dependent industries (Adebayo et al, 2013; Jaggernath, 2010; Muttoo et al, 2018).…”

“…Waste deposited at the Marianhill landfill site consists of 70% domestic, 20% garden, and 10% soil, amounting to 300 tonnes per day (Gumbo, 2014). Sampling sites were selected in areas of high industrial activity of Durban, and Pinetown, which are among the most polluted areas in eThekwini (Adebayo et al, 2013; Matooane & Diab, 2001). Polychlorinated dibenzo‐ p ‐dioxins and furans were selected for study due to the high industrial activities in most of the sites studied.…”

“…The city of Durban has a unique spatial planning challenge as it hosts one of the most highly industrialized regions in Africa, closely intermingled with residential areas (Adebayo et al, 2013; Batterman et al, 2008; Matooane & Diab, 2001; Naidoo et al, 2013). The apartheid spatial planning in Durban created a mixed land use with industrial and residential areas integrated in order to keep and maintain low‐income workers close to their workplaces and reduce transportation costs (Adebayo et al, 2013; du Plessis, 2015). The South Durban Basin (SDB) industrial region is a region consisting of residential areas and schools that are situated in the midst of three flaring crude oil refineries.…”