Jukskei River lab tests finally arrive, councillor not happy with authorities’ response
Councillor Annette Deppe demands practical solutions and a timeline for rehabilitation measures, vowing to involve provincial agriculture authorities due to the city’s inadequate response, this after the lab results she’d been waiting months for arrived, showing alarming levels of contamination in the river.
“The health and safety of our communities are non-negotiable.”
These were the words of Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe after receiving a report of an investigation conducted by the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department following the mass deaths of fish in the Jukskei River.
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The probe has revealed an alarming level of water pollution in the Jukskei River near Waterfall Estate.
Deppe has been persistently pursuing updates from the department regarding her request for an investigation into the mass fish deaths in the river two months ago.
She said these findings indicate substantial sewage contamination, contributing to the degradation of water quality at key points, such as Waterfall Estate.
It also confirms that the pollution has led to excessive foam and fish die-offs in the affected areas.
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“The high levels of organic pollutants, nutrients, and E coli pose serious health risks to both the ecosystem and human activities involving contact with the water. This crisis necessitates immediate attention and action from local authorities to prevent further environmental degradation and health risks,” reads the report.
Further investigation was stressed also to identify the diffuse sources contributing to this severe contamination. The report urged Johannesburg Water (JW) to implement rehabilitation measures to treat microbiological contamination and improve water quality and aquatic health.
However, Deppe was not satisficed with the response from the authorities of the department.
“I am going to involve province into it because the river is in a very bad state; we can’t always go over it again and again. It has been happening for far too long. We need practical solutions to clean the river, not only on the surface but also on the water itself because it was found that it does not have oxygen, which affects the animals in it. We also need a timeline for JW to implement the necessary rehabilitation measures, an action plan showing how and when interventions will be carried out.”
She added that engagement with affected residents and regular water quality monitoring for transparent reporting also needs to be established.
This began on August 18, when Deppe conducted a site visit alongside Environmental Health officials, who collected water samples to analyse the cause of the fish deaths and assess water contamination.
After a few weeks, the results from the investigation found high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels, indicating excessive organic pollutants likely from sewage or industrial sources.
Water and biodiversity management director Daniel Masemola said, “the department will work closely with stakeholders to ensure prompt action is taken.”
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