Cape Town - Irate Strand residents have begun a petition objecting to a proposed crematorium for the George Park industrial area.
Residents said that the development is close to residential areas, and this would impact their health as they will be affected by the air pollution carried on by the wind.
The petition, which was started by Gasant Goolam, stated that the affected areas include the Greenways Golf Estate and more affluent Strand suburbs and the Strand Boardwalk, used for exercise and recreation. Strand is also home to many senior citizens.
Goolam said the proposed crematorium had disregarded their rights and the silence from authorities made matters worse.
“Our community is deeply against this crematorium. We are desperate and astonished at the support for this by the City of Cape Town. Everyone that we approach for answers stays quiet. According to the National Health Act, a crematorium can not be established within 500m of any living dwelling. There are houses and a school 150 metres from this site.
“The suppliers can also not guarantee that it will comply with the minimum health standards. The location is also less than 500m from a natural bird and water haven. They must find another location for this crematorium. We will not rest if their application succeeds. We will take to the streets and wage war on these people who think nothing of us,” said Goolam.
Commander-in-Chief of the Strand Action Group Niklaas Thysen also weighed in on the matter, saying that the community is outraged at the City’s handling of the situation without public participation.
“We strongly condemned this type of action. Blue Crane Funerals Homes plans (to) build a crematorium in the neighbourhood of Strand Muslim community and Morkel Cottage Community without the necessary consultation processes. The community are deeply concerned and outraged at how the City is handling the situation without public participation. We will continue with our petition and engagement with the broader community to bring this project to a halt,” said Thysen.
Senior Environmental Consultant for SRK Consulting, Lauren Elston, said SRK Consulting was appointed by Blue Crane Funerals to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a proposed crematorium located in the industrial area. However, no decision has yet been made following the final EIA report and Environmental Management Programme (EMP) that was submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
Lindsay Ebersohn of Blue Crane Funerals added that various studies were underway, and only once they have the results and facts would the company be in a position to comment.
Mayco member for Community Services and Health Patricia van der Ross said this application was currently in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase, and an Environmental Authorisation has not been considered or concluded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
Van der Ross said a decision has yet to be made regarding the EIA application; an application for an Atmospheric Emission Licence and a necessary supporting public participation process need to be adequately addressed. “The (crematorium) cannot be considered without acquiring the necessary aforementioned Environmental Authorisation being granted,” she said.
Weekend Argus