Enviroserv could be fined millions of rand – and some of its senior officials sentenced to jail terms – should the criminal case against it, in connection with its Shongweni landfill site, succeed. The Mercury reports the case came before Magistrate Stanley Hlophe in the Durban Regional Court yesterday, when State Advocate Yuri Gangai announced that four more accused were being added.

Previously, the case was only against the company, but now EnviroServ CE Dean Thompson, coastal operations manager Clive Kidd, group technical director Esme Gombault and group treatment specialist Dr Johan Schoonraad are being charged in their personal capacities. The final charge sheet lists one count of contravening the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act and two counts of contravening the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.

The former is because ‘during the period January 2015 to January 2017 and at or near Shongweni landfill site… the accused did not prevent emission of offensive odours caused by activity on their premises’. The latter two relate to failing to ‘manage waste in such a manner that it did not endanger health or the environment or cause a nuisance through odour’ and failing to ensure effective access control. Proceedings were brief, with Gangai telling the court the state handed the completed docket over to the defence, then requesting an adjournment until November.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)