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The stench of what residents could only describe as rotten fish that hung over Rosebank last week came from the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) premises in the area and was attributed to broken fridges and dragging processes of switching waste service providers.
Last week, a Rosebank resident complained to People’s Post about the foul fishy smell that was first noticed on Thursday 25 April.
“The smell is unbearable! I went over to the SABS to inquire where that smell was coming from and I learnt fish being tested by the bureau were rotting in fridges that had apparently broken,” explained Rosebank resident Adelle Jacobs.
“It’s quite ironic that the very bureau responsible for ensuring that standards be maintained allowed this rot to continue this long,” she said, citing more concerns ahead of the Workers’ Day on Wednesday 1 May. “Are we meant to be plagued by the smell until services resume the next day?” asked Jacobs.
The SABS’s Head of Facilities Management Fannie Raseruthe confirmed the bureau was aware of the reeking breakdown. “We are aware of the smell and the broken fridges that have led to complaints.
“ The SABS was in the process of sourcing service providers for waste removal and repair of the fridges.”
He said the freezer that had been used for the storage of samples retained after testing by the laboratory had broken down.
“The fish samples had already been tested by the laboratory by that time and were awaiting disposal.
“The services of a waste-removal company have been secured to remove and dispose of waste currently in the freezer,” Raseruthe added.
He concluded that the removal was scheduled to happen on Wednesday.
However, Jacobs – in a follow-up on Thursday – said things only got worse.
“I’m telling you, people have kept their windows shut during these hot temperatures. On Workers’ Day, it was so bad we couldn’t even leave our laundry outside to dry. I swear the stench clung to our clothes!”
She said she went back to the SABS premises to investigate how far along the waste removal had been done. “But when I got there, I realised the rotten fish was merely removed from inside the building into their dumpster outside.”
A follow-up inquiry was sent to Rutheruthe to provide an update, however, no additional feedback had been received by the time of going to print.
