Coming up on
Special Assignment (20 October 2009):
Episode Title: Fighting For Breath
Broadcast date: Tuesday, 20 October 2009
The Northern Cape is in the grip of an asthma epidemic, and no-one really knows why. Special Assignment travels to the town of Danielskuil, where asthma is choking the life out of the community.
Danielskuil is dominated by a huge lime quarry and processing plant run by Idwala Lime. Lime is a crucial strategic mineral, used in the making of cement, water purification and gold refining.
Workers say the extremely dusty working environment at Idwala Lime gave them occupational asthma. Their claims are backed up by medical findings.
However, Idwala Lime denies that lime dust causes asthma, a claim supported by international occupational health agencies. While lime is not listed as one of the 300 causes of asthma, these workers insist that working at Idwala Lime has made them sick.
Meanwhile, in the shadow of Idwala Lime, the larger community of Danielskuil is fighting for breath. With the number of asthma cases skyrocketing, the community, town council and even the mine are calling for an investigation. Up to now the Department of Health has ignored these calls.
Special Assignment spotlights a problem occurring in many communities. The residents are completely dependent on Idwala Lime for their livelihood, but the relationship between them and the mine is facing a complete breakdown.
Is the dust continually sifting over this community making it sick? Is the country’s hunger for the lime used in cement and concrete killing the people of Danielskuil?
Special Assignment is on SABC3 on Tuesdays at 20h31.