' There’ s days and nights where I think I’ m going to die now '
The Hawk News • August 28, 2024 • https:// sjuhawknews. com / 34713 / showcase / mine-dumps-exposecommunity-to-health-issues /
Mine dumps expose community to health issues
' There’ s days and nights where I think I’ m going to die now '
Anna Kalafatis ' 22, Staff Writer
Johannesburg, South Africa – A series of yellow mountains looms over the township of Riverlea, about six miles west of Johannesburg.
The mountains, known as tailings, are the result of waste materials left over from the processing of ore during mining operations. When the wind blows, toxic dust creates an ever-present layer of grime on and in the houses near the tailings, including a multigenerational house where a family of seven sisters is now down to three.
“ We tried to stay strong,” said Siritta Varnicker, the niece of Beverley Triegaardt, one of the sisters, who died in June 2023.
The family home of Rochelle Smith, Yolanda Spalding and Siritta Varnicker is on a street close to a tailing mountain in Riverlea. On windy days tailing dust ends up on top of and inside houses like theirs. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ' 26 / THE HAWK
“ Everytime one of us wanted to break down, we run out of the room, go cry, wash our face, go back in, and be like, ʻAre you okay? ʼ”
Before Triegaardt died from lymphoma, she relied on oxygen tanks and the support of her sisters, Yolanda Spalding and Rochelle Smith, and other relatives living in the house. Most members of the family experience breathing problems.
“ My babyʼs only three months old,” Varnicker said,“ and sheʼs suffering with sinus issues.”
For Varnicker and her family, the cause of all this suffering is clear.“ We believe itʼs the
dunes,” Varnicker said, referring to the tailings. Spalding, who also has breathing issues, agreed.
“ The whole of Riverlea is suffering,” Spalding said.