| FRIDAY,
20 JANUARY 2006: Officials from the Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry and Environmental Management Inspectors from
the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the
Northwest Department of Department of Agriculture, Conservation,
Environment and Tourism have jointly launched a full investigation
into the release of effluent containing hexavalent chromium
into the Crocodile River near Brits on 7 December 2005. Upon
conclusion of this investigation, a decision will be made
regarding appropriate legal action to be taken against responsible
parties, as well as the recovery of costs of remediation,
if necessary.
The release took place at the site of African Chrome Pty
Ltd, which was abandoned in 1999. The Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC), who funded African Chrome Pty Ltd, has
been conducting a clean-up and rehabilitation of the site
since 2001. To date, the IDC has given its full cooperation
in the investigation.
Specialists are also assessing all possible health and
environmental impacts of the incident.
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