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What Citizens say about the Manganese Ore Facility in the Port of Port Elizabeth

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Tourism City Hall
Participants at the Tourism Sector Workshop taking place at the City Hall

On 31 January 2017 the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality concluded the last in a series of workshops intended to formulate a new strategy for the municipality to be published for further comment on 1 March 2017. These workshops involved different sectors and interest groups whose delegates were asked a set of seven questions each as a means of setting a more business like strategy for the municipality to concentrate on and formulate a plan to “businessify” the administration.

What came out strongly at yesterday’s session at the City Hall for the Tourism Sector was that Transnet’s Manganese Ore Dump facility is a continuing stumbling block whose time has run it’s course.

Allied to the above MyPE has been collecting opinions from citizens (CLICK HERE to participate.), along with estimates of ‘hidden cost’ that the Manganese Ore Dump has on stakeholders within the Port and on the periphery of the Manganes Ore Dump. This survey asks for identifiable information from the submitter as we would like to have honest opinions and not anonymously submitted rubbish and emotional claptrap.

Some of the opinions expressed are below:

  • The dust from the Iron Ore dump blows onto our property and am concerned about the possible health issues.
  • “The continual pollution of our property with this black oily dust and the unknown damage to our health is of concern to us. We have noted that there seems to be a lack of effort by the company involved to keep the dust under control – over he past few years, we have noted that the dumps are not sprayed with water as often as they should which in turn allows the dust to be blown over Port Elizabeth.
  • We demand the immediate removal of these dumps to a more acceptable sight at Koega.”
  • I was working for a company that transports the manganese ore from Posmansburg to Markman and then to the harbour. After only one month working close to the dust from the ore serious health issues started to arise, breathing difficulty, coughing up of black mucus, ear infections, skin irretations etc. So I say inform the people who work there about the hazards. No one knows because no inductions are done when starting work there, no paperwork whatsoever.
  • It is polluting the area around it and adversely affecting peoples lives and property.
  • The ore facility and tank farm belong in an heavy industrial area, not closely surrounded by residences, businesses or in an area where they can and do, negatively impact on people and a sensitive environment.
  • Unhealthy to public, Cancer, Tb, etc etc……….
  • Primarily health issue. It is an unsightly and unhealthy operation and should be situated far from any urban establishment.
  • It has severe side effects on a person’s health.
  • LIKE ASBESTOSIS THIS IS A TOXIC INVASION OF THE AIR THAT I BREATH.
  • “Port Elizabeth needs a clean, attractive harbour development incorporating the entire waterfront and Baakens Valley. We can no longer be a cheap dumping ground for Transnet’s monstrous mountain of muck. Let them make profits elsewhere, PE needs tourism and JOBS!!
  • Flats and homes facing Kings Beach including many where elderly and medically unwell people live are subject to constant nose- and lung-irritating dust, as far away as Summer Dunes and most likely Walmer Township as well in a big blow. Enough already!
  • #muckheapmustfall ??”
  • Apart from the possible health risks associated with inhalation of ore dust, both these facilities are an eyesore and are hindering the ongoing process on rejuvenating our city.
  • It is not healthy to breath the dust in and our house is covered inside and outside with the ore.
  • There is already a new area for this facility created at the new harbour.
  • air pollution causes sinus and allergies to the community
  • “The tank farm has passed its sell-by date and is an accident waiting to happen.
  • The manganese ore facility affects the health of residents up and down the coast. It also affects job creation as it is an eyesore that puts tourists off. As far as I am concerned it can go to Saldanha or Luderitz Bay – the two preferred ports of the miners – as the ore berth creates no significant jobs in the metro. Transnet would also then be forced to looking at upgrading the rail link to Gauteng for containerised and general cargo rather than spending its funding on an ore line that only serves to export our children’s inheritance.”
  • Has a major role in restricting growth in lucrative recreational boating and waterfront development which can drastically enhance our city as a major tourist destination.
  • Due to the pollution and it is an eye sore
  • “A clean environment close to the city centre will attract more tourism, which will attract more dollars, which will enable a growing economy resulting in more working opportunities.
  • One look at a dirty and polluted environment sends out the message that visitors would rather go elsewhere.”
  • Disgusting polluting dust blowing over residential and recreational areas damaging assets and I can only imagine what affect it must have on the heath of residents (but if you moved into the area knowingly after the dump was there well …. ) and worse the unfortunate workers who need employment but are forced to work with no protection in the vicinity of those dust clouds.
  • The effects on the health of the citizens of Port Elizabeth should take precedence over the greed of the owners of this unsightly, unhealthy, filth-producing facility.
  • “Because it is an eyesore and is not managed in a way that reduces the impact to a minimum on the surrounding areas.
  • As a country we should not be exporting our raw materials but beneficiating them locally to improve our local economy.”
  • The dust is unbearable, especially in Summertrand and Humewood, and it is no longer compatible with the land use and image of the surrounding area.
  • “Health of residents breathing the ore dust particles into our lungs
  • Dirt and dust created by these dumps beach and facades of buildings stained with ore dust
  • Cleaner and more beautiful King’s Beach – the best beach in South Africa !”
  • The black dust carried by the wind makes everything black. Windows , walls tiles .Every where. Even vehicles. It gets stuck to vehicle paint and with dew and rain starts damaging the paint. If you clean today, tomorrow it is dirty again. If the buildings get dirty so fast , how Mitch do we breath in. It is a safety RISC .
  • The manganese ore dust has long term negative effects on the health of this cities residents (including the marine life) as well as the properties within about a 5 km (own opinion estimate) radius of the tanks. Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay) has the potential to become a tourism and economic hub within this radius and beyond and by removing this hazard it will allow for a green environment to be established that gives all the citizens as well as tourists a place to take part in a healthy lifestyle. I believe that this city (specifically the cbd area) has the potential to be world renowned for green innovations but having such a huge hazard in the way (which can be moved and better controlled at Coega IDZ) is not only damaging to the health of its citizens but also the economy of this city . The positives of moving the tank farm and manganese ore facility by far outweigh the negatives and has to be treated as a matter of urgency. The lives and livelihoods of all the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay depend on this.
  • Because it affects everyone in the area terribly and everyone is sick and tired of always having to clean everything. This should be a place for tourists to visit to bring more revenue to the area. It is a wasted asset which is a manganese dump instead. Too long has everyone suffered.
  • “Because of the oil pollution from the tank farm and the dust from the ore facility.
    also because the space occupied by these facilities could be put to much better use from an economic and recreational point of view.”
  • The move of these facilities to the Coega IDZ needs to keep to the agreed dates of 2017 and 2018 respectively, and not been pushed back again
  • For the health and value of P.E.
  • It is unsightly, unhealthy and blocking economic development
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.