Residents sick of dust pollution

A KEETMANSHOOP resident, Annalie Resandt, says her life is being made miserable by noise and dust pollution from the nearby Super Sand stone-crushing plant.

Resandt’s house in the southern part of town is a mere 100 metres away from the plant. “The noise and the dust are a real concern,” she told The Namibian.According to Resandt, frequent visits to doctors have become part and parcel of her life, because her children frequently experience sinusitis and chest problems.She also has to clean her house several times a day, she says.”Every day I am faced with cleaning thick layers of dust from all over the floors, carpets and furniture.The machines at Super Sand now dictate my life, since I can only do my washing when the machines are off, otherwise I’ll end up with brown and black clothes stained with sand and dust.”The plant operates from seven in the morning till late in the evening, according to Resandt.Yesterday, experts from Environment Solutions at Swakopmund arrived at Keetmanshoop at the request of the Municipality to monitor the dust and noise.According to the Keetmanshoop Municipality’s Chief Executive, Jeremia Shangadi, their findings are expected on Monday.”We’re eagerly waiting for the outcome and based on it Council would then take a decision in this regard,” he said.Some residents are also questioning how Super Sand was granted a health fitness certificate to operate the crusher right next to a residential area.Super Sand owner Pieter van der Westhuizen yesterday declined to comment.He said he too was eagerly awaiting the outcome of the study.He warned that he would not rule out legal action against those who, he claimed, wanted to bring his company’s name into disrepute.”The noise and the dust are a real concern,” she told The Namibian.According to Resandt, frequent visits to doctors have become part and parcel of her life, because her children frequently experience sinusitis and chest problems.She also has to clean her house several times a day, she says.”Every day I am faced with cleaning thick layers of dust from all over the floors, carpets and furniture.The machines at Super Sand now dictate my life, since I can only do my washing when the machines are off, otherwise I’ll end up with brown and black clothes stained with sand and dust.”The plant operates from seven in the morning till late in the evening, according to Resandt.Yesterday, experts from Environment Solutions at Swakopmund arrived at Keetmanshoop at the request of the Municipality to monitor the dust and noise.According to the Keetmanshoop Municipality’s Chief Executive, Jeremia Shangadi, their findings are expected on Monday.”We’re eagerly waiting for the outcome and based on it Council would then take a decision in this regard,” he said.Some residents are also questioning how Super Sand was granted a health fitness certificate to operate the crusher right next to a residential area.Super Sand owner Pieter van der Westhuizen yesterday declined to comment.He said he too was eagerly awaiting the outcome of the study.He warned that he would not rule out legal action against those who, he claimed, wanted to bring his company’s name into disrepute.