Residents of Bela-Bela are concerned for the safety of children with regards to the open pond that is situated in the municipal park on the corner of Ludorf and Driver Streets.
One nearby resident told The Post that she had on various occasions seen children playing and swimming in the pond. There are no visible sign posts in the park forbidding people to swim in the water.
The pond has no natural flow of water, which raises the concern that bacteria could form on the surface and in the process cause children to become ill, the resident said. She claims that she has seen visitors to the park urinate close to the pond.
According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common bacteria found in stagnant, nutrient waters is named cyanobacteria, or better known as blue green algae.
Although the WHO states that these bacteria is harmful to people and will cause various side effects on a person’s health, it is not deadly. The most common symptoms include skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, blisters in the mouth. The pond could be ridden with life threatening bacteria from external sources.
No cases of illnesses or concrete evidence of bacteria growing in the pond has been confirmed, but there is still a risk of drowning.
Kabelo Mosito, municipal spokesperson, said officials paid a visit to the park on Monday 3 February and confirmed that they found children swimming in the pond. The officials demanded that the children leave.
Mosito said that the municipality is in the process of drafting a plan of action for the pond. The area will be monitored and swimming is discouraged for all residents.
