Shadow MMC for Environmental Development and Ward 23 Councillor Ald André du Plessis has raised concerns following a recent article in the City Times about the Scouts cleaning up hyacinth along Homestead Dam.
A metro employee is alleged to have given the go-ahead to the Scouts regarding the clean-up.
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According to du Plessis, if the allegation holds true, the employee is in contravention of NEMA (National Environmental Management Act) and NEMBA (National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act) and “should be disciplined immediately”.
“Due to a lack of sustainable measures we are facing a catastrophe with the hyacinth alien invader species,” explained du Plessis.
“No individual person, institution or municipality can act on the invader species if they are not adhering to the specifications and legislation outlined by NEMA and NEMBA.
“I welcome public participation but we are governed by legislation and must adhere to this.
“If any council official allows members of the public to get involved with hyacinth control they are in direct contravention of legislation.
“The consequences of contravention are that private individuals may be prosecuted.”
Ward 28 councillor Malanie Haggard said while she appreciated the efforts from the Scouts’ clean-up, this also posed an issue within her ward as she implores residents not to clean up the hyacinth due to contravention of the Act.
“Since the article, members of the public are asking why the Scouts were allowed to clean up while I tell them they are not allowed to.”
Du Plessis said that the way in which the metro is dealing with the hyacinth crisis is not desirable (chemical treatment and waste disposal) and may lead to bigger environmental issues.
Both councillors added that there are other measures to remove the hyacinth that does need chemical treatment.
Scouts response
District commissioner of the East Rand Scouts Mike Weeks said members of Scouts South Africa engaged with Ekurhuleni to discuss the hyacinth problem.
“Scouts South Africa own Arrowe Park, a piece of ground bordering a section of Homestead Dam,” explained Weeks.
“As land owners we have responsibility to keep the land in a suitable condition for our use.
“In the beginning of this year, hyacinth grew out of control in the water frontage area of Arrowe Park, preventing us from conducting any water activities on the dam.
“The municipality advised that as land owners it is our responsibility to eradicate weeds on that land and urged us to move the hyacinth to the dam wall of Homestead Dam, where the hyacinth could flow over the wall to Middle Lake.
“The municipality was busy with their machine removing hyacinth from the lake at that time and said they would remove any hyacinth that flowed into the lake from Homestead Dam.
“Ekurhuleni municipality has since moved their hyacinth removal machine to Homestead Dam where they have been systematically working to remove the vast majority of the hyacinth on the side of the lake used by the Scouts, the Sailing Club and the Kayak Club and St Dunstan’s Rowing Club.
“We thank them for their assistance so far in the hyacinth removal, which we know will be a long-term on-going project.
Ekurhuleni metro response
“The metro official concerned only provided technical input to the proposal made by Scouts South Africa,” said the divisional head of communication and media relations in the Ekurhuleni metro, Nhlanhla Cebekhulu.
“The water resources are governed by the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) which states that the National Department of Water Affairs is the custodian.
“The Ekurhuleni municipality is also bound by the same laws and does not have the authority or mandate to give any authorisation on any activity in the water.”
