UPL to oppose class action lawsuit

UPL South Africa has been served with an application for the certification of a class action lawsuit arising from the 2021 Cornubia, North of Durban, arson attack. UPL South Africa said it intended to oppose the application.

UPL said that during the July 2021 violent unrest that affected most of KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of South Africa, a leased warehouse in Cornubia had been attacked and set alight.

That had led to the products stored in the warehouse escaping into the surrounding environment.

UPL South Africa denied that it was liable for damages any claimants might have suffered whether based on statute or in delict.

UPL added that since the incident, UPL South Africa had worked proactively with the local, provincial and national authorities to address the incident.

“This includes extensive monitoring and rehabilitation of the affected areas. Significant progress has been made in addressing the results of the arson attack and spill.”

UPL said the results of regular testing had shown, for some time, that the Ohlanga River, its tributary and estuary, as well as the beach exclusion zone, posed no threat to human health or the environment as a result of the fire and the spill.

The Mercury

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• UPL provides update on clean -up operations after chemical spill during July unrest

• Durban beaches affected by UPL chemical spill to reopen

• UPL pleased with signs of recovery following chemical spill after arson attack