A total of 12 cattle have so far been reported dead after a cyanide spill in the Ngagane river near Newcastle.
|||A total of 12 cattle have so far been reported dead after a cyanide spill in the Ngagane river near Newcastle, in KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial department of water affairs said on Sunday.
Acting regional director for water resource management Jay Reddy said the department was still awaiting the results of tests done on the water.
It was “assumed” to have been poisoned by the nearby synthetic rubber manufacturer, Karbochem.
The spill was discovered on Thursday.
Reddy said if the tests on the water and a post mortem done on one of the carcasses confirmed that Karbochem was the culprit, then action would be taken.
“If it turns out that it's the presence of cyanide... then we will take the necessary steps towards prosecution.”
The results were expected later this week.
He said that while Karbochem had not taken responsibility for the spill, it had co-operated with the investigation.
It had also offered to compensate the farmers and local residents in the area who had been affected.
On Friday, Karbochem said the water was “far within the safe and legal limits”.
Karbochem was not immediately available for comment on Sunday. - Sapa