Pollution at the origin of the Vaal River concern residents of Breyten

Breyten residents recently expressed their concern about the water pollution at the origin of the Vaal River.

The river is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa, and have recently been in the media quite a few times about the raw sewage spill into the river.

According to Mr Louis Bates, head of Breyten Primary School, he and a group of farmers tried to develop the Vaal River Eye as a tourist attraction in 1995.

It did not work out because the residents in the area used the water for drinking. He added that the water was so rapidly being poured out at the time that the eye no longer ran out.

“The river is not only being polluted in the larger parts of it, but the pollution begins here in Breyten at the origin,” Mr Bates said.

According to Mr. Bates, most of the sewage pipes in the Kwazanele township are blocked causing the sewage flows into the streets and when it rains, the sewerage water flows directly into the Vaal river.

This was also one of the reasons for the recent protest in Breyten as the situation presents a health risk to the residents in the area.

Mr Bates was a councilor on the Breyten Transitional Counsel from 1995 to 2000 and was one of the first people to drink the clean water after the purification dams were installed.

Until recently, he was under the impression that the eight dams that were built are still operating, and therefore decided to visit these dams.

Mr Bates told the Highvelder that he and a friend drove into the purification plant without being questioned by the security on the premises.

Only upon leaving did the staff members stop and question them.

He took photos of the decommissioned and overgrown purification system.

He added that only one of the eight dams are in a working condition and he is of the opinion that the rusted pipes and overgrown dams are signs that the dams have not been in a working condition for years.

“One of the workers mentioned to us that the system needs fan belts, and they do not know when it will be restored.”

One of the residents who accompanied him to the plant said he felt as if they had walked into a lost city’s sewage plant as the infrastructure at the plant is neglected.

The sewage is not the only form of pollution at the river. Cattle are slaughtered and the blood and waste of the animals end up in the river.

Residents are constantly dumping their garbage into the fields that flow into the river when it rains.

Livestock beads are also visible in the nearby fields of the river.

A new extension is currently being built in the area and residents are questioning whether the current sewer system will be able to handle the increased demand.

“We have nothing against the new homes being built, our people here need housing, but they have to upgrade the infrastructure to keep up with the demand.”

Mr. Bates started writing letters to the Msukaligwa Municipality in 2014 about the problems and deterioration of the town, but have not received any response.

The Highvelder inquired at the municipality, but received no response by the time of going to print.