DA questions metro lack of plan to control alien invader species threatening dams
"The city’s water bodies as critical to the livelihood of citizens living within the metro and thus there should be greater accountability and action to tackle the source of the problem and not just the symptoms to avert the crisis." - Ald André du Plessis
The Ekurhuleni metro has no plan to control alien invader species threatening dams and lakes.
This is according to Ald André du Plessis, DA Shadow MMC for Environment and Waste Management Services in Ekurhuleni.
“The DA in Ekurhuleni is gravely concerned over the lack of political will and urgency shown by the metro in dealing with the hyacinth crisis in the City’s dams and lakes,” said du Plessis.
“Despite the use of a water master machine, which dredges the waterbodies of various plant invader species, the process is tediously slow and deals with the symptom and not the bigger problem.
“Evidence of this includes the Brakpan Dam.”
He said in an attempt to assist with the crisis, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) purchased a 12-seater speedboat in order to provide support and maintenance to the effort to control alien invader species.
“The speedboat, however, is yet to be launched.
“Aside from this inefficiency, a secondary problem takes root in the removal of the extracted hyacinth which is dumped onto the embankments, which creates a risk of these alien invader species to other waterways within the vicinity.
“It is therefore imperative that a proper environmental management plan is adhered to in accordance with the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, to avoid these problems.
“The CoE has no such plan which effectively place them firmly in breach of the law.
A very lucrative tender was awarded to a company by the CoE to manage the control of Alien Invader Species throughout Ekurhuleni, however we are yet to see their credentials or scientific inputs into how they intend to tackle the ongoing crisis.”
He said compounding the crisis is the failing infrastructure that is causing raw sewage being pumped into Benoni Lakes on a daily basis, thus creating an ideal environment for Hyacinth to grow and multiply.
“This situation is simply untenable for the City’s water bodies and has the potential to spiral into a full blown environmental disaster.
“I have written to the HOD of Environmental and Waste Management, as well as the city manager, demanding urgent solutions coupled with specialised, scientific and legally compliant action in tackling the hyacinth crisis that is threatening our dams and lakes.
“DA councillors have also been applying pressure on the CoE to take measures to resolve the crisis.
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