‘Hijackers dumped medical waste’

The vehicle was stolen in December last year

A medical waste company has confirmed that the hazardous medical waste that washed up on Mdumbi and Mngcibe beaches this week had been dumped by hijackers who stole a company vehicle on December 8.

Compass Medical Waste Services MD Graham du Randt said the hospital waste was part of a consignment that had been stolen during the hijacking.

The waste, including vials of blood, urine and skin samples, plastic body bags, syringes, droppers and other medical items, was found close to the Mdumbi River mouth.

In a Dispatch report on Thursday, residents said they were shocked to discover bags of medical waste washing up on the beaches from Sunday until Wednesday.

Du Randt said: “After being alerted to the [Dispatch] article and requesting a video of the dumped waste from an environmental health representative in the area, we have been able to accurately identify the waste as being from our hijacked vehicle.”

He said heavy rains might have washed the waste down the Mdumbi River after the hijackers dumped it next to an adjoining river.

“Our Eastern Cape regional manager and a hazmat cleanup team are now on their way to the affected area to meet the environmental health department and ensure the area is isolated and cleaned up speedily,” he said.

“The hijacking of our vehicle on December 8 in the Canzibe area was reported to the police station immediately after the incident.

“At the same time, we alerted relevant national and provincial authorities to the missing waste ... to date the vehicle has not been found.

“Compass Medical Waste takes the illegal dumping of medical waste very seriously and we are saddened by the damaging effect this hijacking has had on our driver, local residents and the environment.

“We are, however, relieved that the stolen consignment has finally surfaced and can be safely retrieved and disposed of.”

Provincial health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said the incident was still being investigated.

“The medical waste has been removed in [collaboration] with relevant stakeholders such as the department of economic development & environmental affairs and the local municipality, and the investigation into its source remains ongoing.

“The department views any act of dumping medical waste as irresponsible, posing a public health risk to communities.”

Lu Hemsley, owner of Freedom

O Clock Backpackers in Mngcibe village, at the mouth of the Mdumbi River, said the waste had been removed from the beach in a mass cleanup initiative organised by local leaders and department authorities.

Hemsley said: “Our ward councillor, Mr Mjajubana, his assistant and staff at Pilani Clinic, came to assist us on Wednesday and the beaches looked clean.

“They left us with gloves, hazardous waste bags and so on for collection should more stuff pop up.”

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said: “It is alleged that on December 8, a bakkie from Compass Medical Waste Services

was [travelling] from the local hospital at Ngqeleni.

“When the driver was at Lujizweni Location, he was blocked by a white Toyota bakkie and two suspects.

“They came out with handguns and took him out of the bakkie. They searched him and took cellphones.

“They put him at the back of the bakkie. They drove and dropped him at a place unknown to him.

“He was picked up by another company car and opened a case of hijacking at Ngqeleni.

“No suspects were arrested and the vehicle has not yet been recovered.

“No injuries were sustained by the victim. The case is still under investigation.”