Sickened by pungent smell

Breathing woes blamed on firm operating from quarry.

- Jabulile Mbatha

The course of the lives of residents in Vlakfontein have turned for the worst with the international waste landfill, Averda, at their doorsteps.

Some have even developed respiratory conditions because of the constant inhalation of the toxic chemicals.

Averda is operating on a former brick-making quarry and claims on its website that "the clay acts as a natural barrier that contains hazardous materials within the site and prevents them from spreading into the environment."

However, residents claim this is not the case.

Edward Venter, 66, has lived on a farm 2km from Averda. For 40 years he lived happily working as a farmer.

In March last year, he and his wife were awoken by a terrible smell, which was worse than the usual days.

His wife Charmaine said: "He couldn't breathe, we went to the doctor and we were told he had to be admitted. We were told he had to get a lung biopsy. I had no idea that my husband was going to be slashed across one side past three ribs, it was a 10cm cut.

"He was in ICU for three days and in hospital for 10 days. The doctor said there was an indication of a chemical burn in his lung and since then he has been unable to work like before."