"Helicopter Spraying Operations Raise Concerns: BRA Seeks Clarity and Action"
Following the recent incident on 1st March, during which several households in the Lagoon Drive area reported experiencing strong chemical smells while an Illovo-contracted helicopter conducted spraying operations in nearby sugarcane fields, it was agreed that Rory and Pete would draft a letter to Mr Leon Haggie, General Manager of the Sezela Mill. The purpose of the letter was to formally express BRA’s serious concerns and to seek clarity on the cause of the incident, as well as Illovo’s plans to prevent any recurrence.
A letter from BRA was duly sent to Mr Haggie outlining the community’s concerns and requesting an explanation of how this incident had occurred and the measures Illovo intended to implement in future, to ensure that it did not recur.
A prompt and constructive response was received from Mr Haggie. In his reply, he acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised by BRA, explained the cause of the incident, and outlined a series of urgent remedial actions to be implemented before any future spraying operations. These measures are intended to ensure that a similar incident does not occur again.
BRA also received a response from Ms Ezelle Berry, General Manager of the South Coast Cane Growers Association, which oversees the aerial spraying programme. She offered a formal apology for the 1st March incident and provided a detailed explanation of the steps now being taken to avoid a recurrence. These include the installation of upgraded onboard software in the helicopters to provide early warnings when approaching residential areas. Additionally, the minimum buffer zone around residences for aerial spraying has been increased from 100 metres to over 200 metres.
In addition to the written responses, we were invited by Illovo to attend an on-site meeting with Mr Vee Luthuli, Farm Manager, to view the specific fields scheduled for spraying in the coming week. These include the field on the north side of the Ndesingane River near the coast, the valley below the Mast, and the area behind the farmhouse.
BRA must continue to monitor Illovo’s operations closely to ensure that all commitments made by Mr Haggie and Ms Berry, regarding safe spraying practices, are fully adhered to.
