The massive sewage spillage in the Vaal River is of great concern to members of the Lekwa community near Standerton, but somehow the Local Municipality and the Department of Water Affairs don’t seem to think it holds any dangers – to humans or the environment.
Action group AfriForum has now taken up the matter with the Lekwa Municipal Manager, Mr Linda Tshabalala. Initailly, says Afriforum, nothing has been done about the situation, but says Pieter Rautenbach, General Advisor for Community Structures at AfriForum, “Water Affairs remains constitutionally compelled to ensure that rivers are not polluted and to monitor river water. They and the provincial government should support municipalities who – for some reason – cannot perform their duties”.
It is poses a missive risk to humans and animals. In Milwaukee, America, 104 people died and 400 000 were hospitalised when sewage spilled into a river.
Meanwhile the regional office of the Water Department in Standerton couldn’t confirm whether any river is being monitored. That’s why sewage has been spilled in the Vaal River for months on end without anything being done about it. Tshabalala indicated that he was prepared to prioritise funds from the budget for the problem, however, the Council decided that other matters deserve preference.
AfriForum will now submit charges of culpable homicide against officials if the sewage causes diseases or the death of residents.
Apparently an agreement was reached between the Municipality and Eskom to pay back money owed to Eskom has “restricted” the municipality’s access to disaster funds.
