Over the years, The TATIB Foundation has received a large number of complaints from residents of Paarl, following their exposure to spray drift of toxic fungicides that Drakenstein Municipality has been spraying on the Oak trees that line the public streets. If you look back through the older posts you will see how the story has developed.
We have sent many letters to Drakenstein over the years, but they have continued to spray without any regard for public safety.
On 06 October 2010, we sent a letter to Cathy Bill of the Green Scorpions . See link below :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/68170080/Letter-to-Cathy-Bill-Re-Spraying-of-Oak-Trees
On 16 September 2011 at 05h25, a group of 8 cyclists who were training for a triathlon, were caught in spray drift on the corner of Market & Main Street in Paarl. There were immediate side effects of burning eyes, skin and irritation to upper respiratory tracts, and then lung problems after 4 days.
The TATIB Foundation sent an urgent email to Drakenstein's Albert vd Merwe and also to Drakenstein's attorneys on record, in an attempt to establish exactly what was sprayed so that the victims could get the necessary medical attention as a matter of priority. As expected, neither Drakenstein Municipality nor their attorneys responded.
TATIB investigated and it has been confirmed that Bumper/Tilt & Rubigan were sprayed.
The TATIB Foundation sent an urgent email to Drakenstein's Albert vd Merwe and also to Drakenstein's attorneys on record, in an attempt to establish exactly what was sprayed so that the victims could get the necessary medical attention as a matter of priority. As expected, neither Drakenstein Municipality nor their attorneys responded.
TATIB investigated and it has been confirmed that Bumper/Tilt & Rubigan were sprayed.
The statutory Product Labels have the following warnings :-
( i ) Harmful when swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
( ii ) May irritate the eyes and skin.
(iii ) Toxic to fish and wildlife.
(iv ) Store in a cool, well ventilated place.
(v ) Store away from food and feed.
(vi) Keep out of reach of children, uninformed persons and animals
(vii) Handle with care.
(viii) Poisonous when swallowed or inhaled
(ix) Avoid spray drift onto other crops, grazing, rivers, dams and areas not under treatment.
(x) Use only as directed
TATIB can now confirm that Affidavits were deposed, and charges laid at the local SAPS on 08 October 2011 !!
Further information on Bumper & Tilt, their product labels, MSDS's and toxic breakdown products can be found here :
Further information on Rubigan its product label, MSDS and toxic breakdown products can be found here :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47935818/Rubigan-Label
We urge anyone who has come into contact with spray drift, with regards to the spraying of the Oak trees in Paarl [or Stellenbosch] to please make contact with us on : info@tatib.co.za
