It was that fateful Sunday in April 2013. Little Jordan Lewis was happily playing with her cousins in an open field near their home in Delft on the Cape Flats. What seemed like an ordinary day for an ordinary child was to change drastically and fatally for Jordan. While playing, Jordan and her cousins came into contact with toxic chemicals that were illegally dumped in the open field.
On their return home, the children complained of severe stomach aches and were rushed to hospital. Seven of them survived, but sadly, a few hours later, three year old Jordan Lewis succumbed to the toxic chemicals.
Media reports indicated she had died from organ failure. The South African Police Service reported that a case of illegal dumping of hazardous material was being investigated and that an inquest docket into Jordan’s death was opened.
READ : Something is Rotten in Durban
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Kuben Samie is an environmental activist from Durban, South Africa, with over 20 years experience in the environmental field. He holds a degree in Zoology from the University of Durban-Westville, and a Law degree from the University of South Africa. He is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
His aim is seek and fight for justice, particularly in communities which continue to suffer the debilitating effects of apartheid in South Africa. As a public servant, he has been exposed to fraud, corruption and nepotism and he has dedicated his life to fighting this scourge within the public service and exposing it.
As an experienced environmentalist, he is able to advise and assist persons and communities to exercise their environmental rights and obligations.
He is currently campaigning to save the historic Cato Manor Indian Cemetery which was desecrated and is being illegally used as a freight container depot.