For the past 12 months or so, Summerveld training centre has been party to an ongoing problem with a dump site, where large amounts of what appears toxic waste causing the entire area to smell most unpleasant.
Allegedly, shiploads of waste has arrived in KZN –specifically to be dumped there, after being sent to South Africa from across the ocean.

The Eniroserve toxic dump in one of the Shongweni valleys continues to negatively affect the quality of life in the surrounding areas, and residents have been involved with signing of various petitions for action to be taken about this.

Apparently, Enviroserve (according to the website www.upperhighwayair.co.za) have admitted to causing the smell but refuse to admit to being the sole source of the odour.

The ongoing stench continues to prove most unpleasant to both horses and people and residents of the Summerveld/Hillcrest area are desperate to see this situation resolved timeously.

Trainer James Goodman has been badly affected by the ongoing situation, saying, “As a racehorse trainer I get quite aggravated with the situation. Summerveld suffers from a terrible stench with the smell being particularly unpleasant and reminiscent of old motor oil.”

Goodman tried to follow the trucks one morning but was turned away by security when he tried to venture onto the site, with security saying it was for authorised personnel only.

Concerned citizens have formed the Upper Highway Air Group, who have arranged various marches (which have attracted crowds of up to 2000 people) and petitions regarding the issues. They have also contacted the South African Human Rights Commission, and several other organisations, for advice on this unpleasant and chronic problem.

Upper Highway Air is now a 21 Non Profit Company with an extremely informative website at www.upperhighwayair.co.za

The website has also been used to submit formal complaints, and the group have also tried contacting Carte Blanche to expose this problem but, at the time of writing, had no success in this endeavour.
 

Image Summerveld.com