The eThekwini Municipality has launched an urgent investigation after toxic fumes affected learners and teachers at a Wentworth school.
Image: Cherie' Vertuin
The eThekwini Municipality has launched an urgent investigation after toxic fumes disrupted a school in Wentworth yesterday, affecting both learners and teachers.
IOL reported on Thursday that Umbilo Secondary School was evacuated after learners and teachers detected a chemical fume.
"The City is currently verifying the company's compliance documentation and operating procedures and has initiated processes that may lead to legal action should any non-compliance be confirmed," the municipality said.
Fire services and health teams, joined by private ambulance crews, rushed to the scene within minutes, stabilising affected pupils and staff.
Those impacted were transported to Wentworth Hospital for treatment.
No fatalities were reported according to the municipality.
Investigations traced the odour to a nearby company conducting a container-cleaning operation using ethyl acrylate.
Fumes are believed to have drifted toward the school under windy conditions.
Inhalation of ethyl acrylate primarily affects the respiratory tract and the central nervous system, with symptoms ranging from mild sensory irritation to severe medical emergencies, depending on the concentration and duration of exposure.
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) coordinator Desmond D'Sa condemned the company that was responsible for chemical.
"We got the smell in our offices first, and we were there when the children were collapsing and all that.
"We tried to call the health officials...Our point is that those companies have repeatedly gassed the children out in Wentworth and other areas of South Durban," he said.
He added that these companies must be thoroughly investigated and that the permits must be revoked if proven that they were not being thorough with their safety measures.
"The permits to operate must be revoked until they provide all the evidence and until they clean up the mess. It can't be that our children, our families, now our children have been affected.
"Our families have died of cancer on the borders of these big companies for many years of gassing us out. Not the first time, quite a few times. So, we are calling on the authorities to act immediately, and if not, these officials are not prepared to act," said the activist.
The municipality has intensified compliance checks and warned that legal action may follow if safety violations are confirmed.
Officials say the incident highlights ongoing concerns about industrial operations near schools and residential areas in south Durban.
"We are conducting a full probe into the company's practices, and if non-compliance is confirmed, we will act decisively with stricter legal measures," said the municipality's Fire Regional Commander, Sibusiso Mkhulisi.
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