Saturday, July 25, 2009

Waste company at centre of toxic storm

Residents of Clayville in Olifantsfontein near Kempton Park are locked in a fierce battle with a nearby hazardous waste-disposal company they say is poisoning them. And they maintain that it has links with the African National Congress (ANC).

The company in question is Thermopower Process Technology, Africa's largest hazardous waste disposer and a client of major companies such as Sasol, Monsanto, BASF, AngloGold Ashanti and Afrox Gas.

Thermopower is under investigation by the government's environmental police, the Green Scorpions. A neighbouring tile factory, Norcross, says it has had to shut down twice because its workers have become ill from emissions.

A Mail & Guardian investigation has revealed that Alan Norman, a former Absa executive described by some who have dealt with him as "the ANC's banker", has been central to the company's efforts to find an empowerment partner. Among those considered was Smuts Ngonyama, when he was head of the ANC Presidency under Thabo Mbeki.

Source: Mail & Guardian

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