Press Release 30 Apr 2005

Earthlife Africa calls for a full investigation– is the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) failing the people?

Earthlife Africa notes the NNR report released on 29th April 2005.   We understand that the report contains instructions to NECSA to erect a fence within 3 days and to put guards on duty in the interim.  These actions validate our findings.  However, a full investigation is still needed as there are many unanswered questions.

“While, Earthlife Africa appreciates the concern and attention given to the identification of a publicly accessible site at which increased levels of radioactivity were recorded, the question remains, why was this site unguarded?” asks Olivia Andrews, nuclear campaigner for Earthlife Africa Cape Town.

There were increased levels of radioactivity above the international norm in a place accessible to children.  From this it seems that both the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (NECSA) and the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) appear to lack the capability to protect South Africans from radiation exposure. A child spending 3 minutes per day playing at this site would receive a radiation dose in excess of what is considered just acceptable under South Africa regulations (= 250 µSv/year). Dose limits, as laid down by the South African Department of Health, require the effective dose for the general public not to exceed 1mSv. 
 
The existence of the site was brought to the attention of Earthlife Africa by a community that has an outstanding land claim covering the area, and was looking over the spot, that now lies about 20 metres from a public housing development.  Activists of the Nuclear Energy Costs The Earth campaign brought a experienced geologist and Geigercounter to the site, for their investigation.  Only once NECSA was made aware of the problem did they begin to address it by erecting signage.

The recent announcement that the Chief Licensing Officer of the PBMR (the company proposing to build a new nuclear reactor) will be appointed to head up the NNR is further evidence of the seeming reluctance of the South African nuclear regulator to provide robust and independent oversight. 

“We believe that a full, transparent investigation into the Pelindaba calibration site could lead to improvements in nuclear regulation, and we are prepared to work together to achieve this” said Olivia Andrews.