POPs IN AFRICA HAZARDOUS WASTE TRADE 1980 - 2000 ... - Arte

203 ibid.
“ABC” with participation of the British Leigh Environmental.
Leigh’s top manager Malcolm Wood also came to Ciskei to
coordinate the multi-million dollar deal.
Ciskei’s head of government, the general Oupa Gqozo had
allegedly given the go ahead for the deal during a visit to Austria
in November 1990. In connection with the Ciskei scheme there
was also talk about chemical wastes, PCBs and industrial
sludges. Unnamed government officials said the Ciskei
government had set up a team of experts to develop a huge
incinerator (rotary kiln) to destroy the most harmful of the toxic
substances to be imported. The amount of the business was to be
USD 600 million per annum.
Upon Greenpeace requests the government confirmed the plans
in principle in November 1990, but after detailed questioning
they said: “Get lost”.
These shipments were to be processed, as in the case of Transkei,
via the South African port of East London. But the South
African government opposed these plans during a process of reevaluation
of their own waste trade policy. It was suspected by
some that Pretoria wanted to make the deal for themselves. The
Ciskei administration thereupon started deliberations to maybe
build a port of its own so to be independent from the South
African government in Pretoria.
Ambrosini’s representatives were allegedly active during that
time also in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique. 203
Scheme: Pasminco
Date: September 2000
Type of Waste: Mining wastes containing lead and arsenic
Source: Australia
Exporter: “mining & smelting giant” Pasminco
Importer: Mintek, parastal South Africa
Pretext/ Fate: “research”
Status: actual
South African Environment Affairs Minister Valli Moosa
defended a government decision to allow 60 tonnes of hazardous
mining waste to enter Durban in September 2000 for research
purposes.
South Africa had not yet ratified an amendment to the Basel
Convention prohibiting the transboundary movement of
hazardous material which was destined for disposal, he said in a
statement.
He said nevertheless, the country was committed to responsible
104