LOOK: Probe into major crude oil spill at Umbilo River
A criminal investigation's begun into a large oil spill at Umbilo River, in Bellair, south of Durban.
Environmental Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube who's inspected the river believes thieves, belonging to a syndicate, targeted an underground pipeline.
READ: Subcontractors linked to Durban sub-stations sabotage
She's appointed a team of environments to probe the spill with Transnet.
"This is a very serious case of theft as well as the damage to the infrastructure to the economic infrastructure of the whole country that has happened."
Large amounts of crude oil spilt into the river this week.
Durban South environmentalist, Desmond Dsa said: "Clearly there's a stinking river of dead fish and all the e coli and life have all gone. I don't think the marine life will survive, but people along the river will be affected by that smell."
Big oil spill in Kzn Umbilo River over night, will the @eThekwiniM care and act quickly to save wildlife and Bay Head Mangooves reserve.
— AL NICOLL (@AlNicoll) October 20, 2020
How much can this once prestene River take. We need find the culprits @thesundaytimes @TheDailyNewsSA @carteblanchetv @Greenpeaceafric pic.twitter.com/2XiZ09zMUq
