Verbal brickbats on eve of protest march

THE Right2Know (R2K) Campaign has accused Engen of “threatening” members of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, who are due to stage a march to the petrol refinery tomorrow to raise concerns about the health of the people living close to it.

In a letter to the alliance, Engen said it recognised the right to protest, but “objects” that the march would proceed to the refinery because it implied that it was responsible “for the alleged cancer and distresses of chemical impacts to the community”. Without scientific evidence to prove that Engen was responsible for incidences of cancer and other illnesses, it regarded the march as an unlawful, wrongful and malicious act intended to injure and defame.

The letter said the refinery was a National Key Point, which meant Engen had an obligation and a right to “take such actions as it deems necessary in the interest of the National Key Point Installation”.

“Engen also has a right to protect its assets and employees. In the past, violence has marred protest action outside the Engen refinery. Earlier this year, a security guard was assaulted by protesters,” Engen spokeswoman Thandeka Cele told The Mercury.

The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance has been granted a permit by Durban metro police to gather in a parking lot in Byfield Road in Wentworth tomorrow morning, and march to Tara Road, opposite the entrance of the refinery.

“We have got permission from the city, we will proceed with the march, this is just a scare tactic,” said Desmond D’Sa, the co-ordinator of the alliance.

According to R2K, it was not legitimate to use the National Key Points Act to limit or discourage protest – although it often happened.

The conflation of security and protection against criticism was very worrying, R2K spokesman Murray Hunter said.

But Cele said Engen had not sought to stop the march.

“The company is proud of its commitment to being a caring and responsible partner of the South Durban community. Engen will continue to work together with the community in various meaningful ways,” she said.