Pinetown reserve river pollution concerns resident

PARADISE Valley Nature Reserve is a paradise no more.

The water flowing through the Pinetown reserve has been polluted with sewage, free-flowing faeces and suspected industrial effluent since the April floods.

Dr Smita Ramson, a resident in the area for the last 20 years, can clearly see the waterfall from his nearby apartment block and has diligently, almost daily, monitored the state of the water visually for the last four months from his home.

A lecturer at a tertiary educational institution, Dr Ramson is dismayed at the appearance and foul odour of the river water in the reserve.

“It has been four months since I first noticed this foamy effluent in the river. The pollution that I have monitored is post-flood, although my reading and research does seem to indicate the effluent may be due to industrial deposits and possibly because of flood damage,” says Ramson.

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The resident has occasionally come to the reserve with friends and his daughter to enjoy nature and the beautiful surroundings.

“I occasionally hike to the waterfall with my friends and my daughter, as we enjoy that. The reserve is a place of serenity in the middle of a very busy metropolitan area. People look forward to spending time here as it’s an oasis,” says Ramson.

The resident is a member of Food for Life SA, which forms a part of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. Food for Life SA is a non-denominational, non-sectarian feeding scheme, and together with his humanitarian work, Ramson has a deep-rooted respect for the environment.

“I’m always very aware of the environment due to my philosophy on life. I’m vegetarian, and I practise a spiritual life. I believe in the reciprocal nature between environment and humans,” says the resident.

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He has unsuccessfully called the municipal contact number on numerous occasions and maintains that the average South African citizen is anxious about the country’s governmental capacity.

“My representation in this matter is as a concerned community member who sees the neglect of our beautiful areas by the municipality. I’m concerned they do not have the capacity nor the will to make positive changes for the benefit of the citizens. Everybody is suffering in this together. The average citizen feels helpless, and we look to leadership to alleviate the anxieties of the general citizens and to be servants of the people.”

The Paradise Valley Nature Reserve sees the Umbilo River traversing coastal and remnant grasslands, has generous picnic areas for the public, visually appealing hiking trails and includes a national monument within its boundaries. The Umbilo Waterworks, built in 1887, is one of two national monuments in the suburb.

The municipality was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.