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Reports in certain newspapers have again created the impression that South Africa is about to allow the importation of hazardous and other waste for the purpose of destruction or final disposal in South Africa and the situation has not changed, says the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Dawie de Villiers.

The term "hazardous waste" covers a wide range of wastes, also under the classification system of the Basel Convention to which South Africa acceded recently. Two types of hazardous waste must be distinguished:

Wastes which are toxic (poisonous) to humans and other living organisms
Wastes which could be described as potentially dangerous. Examples of the latter type include materials such as used oils, scrap metals and slags which can be recycled or recovered into useful products and which do not pose a threat to man or the environment when handled properly and with good technology.

To allay all uncertainties and rumours, I would like to state categorically that I will not allow the importation of wastes in point 1 above, as long as I am the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Speculations in this regard are therefore devoid of all truth. South Africa will under no circumstances become the dumping place of the world's toxic waste.

Enquiries: SA Gerber
Tel: (012) 310 3695/
(012) 47 4694
WE Scott
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Dawie 23/11