Part 1

Context

One of the ways in which we can move towards sustainability in cities it to increase the level of well-being in communities, especially those that may be marginalised economically, socially or environmentally.

One element of this issue is the level of risk that these communities are exposed to. These risks can be chronic (such as the slow and insidious decline in children's health with long term exposure to toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere) or acute (such as the immediate and unexpected danger of an industrial accident causing a large fire). In the South Durban Industrial Basin communities are exposed to many risks.

The South Durban Basin is located within the boundaries of the eThekwini Municipality. It lies south of the central business district of the city of Durban, and is adjacent to the coast. The main land uses here are residential areas, nature reserves, light and heavy industry and the airport. The industrial basin extends from Umbogintwini in the south to the Durban port in the north and runs approximately five kilometres inland. It is one of the country's most important industrial hubs. Key industries include food and beverages, textile and clothing, pulp and paper, petrochemical, and car components and assembly.

Durban has become a major production and distribution centre for refined petroleum products and so there are proposals that this area should be used for future development of petrochemical industries. However, the people living in the area do not want more industry in their area as they are already suffering from the impacts of pollution.

South Durban is a site of a long and bitter struggle over the control of development and the environment in the area. Due to apartheid planning, coloureds, Indians and Africans were located close to heavy industry to supply labour and also to ensure that the best places in urban areas were owned and occupied by white people. This planning was enforced using the Group Areas Act (1951). These decisions were taken in the past where planning did not consider the environmental impacts of heavy industry and how this affected the health and quality of life of people. Because of this planning process and the motives behind it, South Durban is a good example of environmental racism.

Currently, the coloured community of Wentworth, the Indian communities of Merebank, Merewent and Isipingo, the African community of Umlazi and the white communities of the Bluff are located very close to heavy industry and the airport. These communities are affected by air pollution, noise pollution and live in fear of industrial explosions and chemical spills.

Task

As geographers, you have been assigned to a project that requires you to investigate the environmental risks in the residential areas of South Durban and to consider the most appropriate way of dealing with the situation when the Durban International Airport is de-commissioned (ceases to function) in favour of a new site 40 kilometres north of Durban (proposed La Mercy Airport). Your assignment includes two main tasks:

  1. A risk assessment detailing the current situation for communities in South Durban
  2. Suggest ways in which the problem of risk to air pollution could best be solved once the current airport ceases to operate.

Investigating the Current Situation

In order to fulfil the terms of your project brief, you need to know the details of the current situation, including levels of risk, in Wentworth. You will need to use the information available to conduct an assessment of the current risk situation. Before you reach any conclusions about environmental risk in the residential communities of the Industrial Basin you must answer the following questions:

Questions

Use the 1:50 000 map of Durban to answer the following:

  • What is the name of the largest industrial zone shown on this map? Give four reasons for why is it located where it is? (5)
  • Find Wentworth and describe the land use activities that surround this suburb in the basin. (5)
  • Examine the contours of the map and describe the relief of the Basin. (5)
  • In what ways will the relief of this area contribute to the level of risk for communities? (3)

Use the aerial photographs and map to answer the following: You may need to use the map to orientate yourself on the aerial photograph.

  • Locate the Mondi factory. Describe the land use next to the Mondi factory. (4)
  • Calculate the distance from the Mondi factory to the primary school in Wentworth (in kilometres). Use the map to locate the primary school on the photograph. What conclusions can be drawn from this answer? (4)
  • How many schools can you count on the photograph? What does this indicate about environmental risks given the high number of industrial sites on this photograph? (4)
  • Describe the different kinds of land use on all sides of the airport. (4)
  • Give reasons for the curved layout of the roads of the suburb of Merewent. (3)
  • Why has the Mlazi River been canalised at it reaches the sea? (2)
  • Describe the vegetation on the dune east of Merewent. Use the map to help you find Merewent on the photograph. (3)

Drawing some conclusions

The answers to these questions will enable you to collect the information necessary to form some conclusions about the levels of this risk communities face and the degree of environmental justice in this context.

  • How are the maps and photographs useful in helping you to understand the conflicts and environmental problems in South Durban? (4)
  • What kinds of risks are communities in this area exposed to? (4)
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