Phalaborwa: Thousands of dead fingerlings wash up ashore Schiettoch Dam
Schiiettoch farm foreman, Abraham Mathebula, is adamant that thousands of his fingerlings died in the dam he manages due to raw sewage that comes from the town's sewage line.
Thousands of dead fish have washed ashore at a dam in one of the farms in Phalaborwa.
Abraham Mathebula is furious after the dead fish washed to the shores of one of the Skietog Dam’s in Phalaborwa he looks after.
Mathebula explained that in the morning when he got to work with his boss, they noticed a massive die-off of fish at Skietog Dam behind the Municipal dumping area.
Read: Phalaborwa: Leaking sewer still a living hell
Many of the fish were young and according to Mathebula, this is frustrating. He told the Phalaborwa Herald that he believes the fish are being killed by the raw sewage coming from town into the farm.
Abraham Mathebula holds some of the dead fish in his hand.
“The people in the town report it every day. I remember I saw an article about Martin Coetzee and he too explained that the sewage that goes past his house ends up in this dam,” stated the farm foreman.
He explained that he used to have hippos on the farm and those hippos would not go to that dam but would go to the other dams. “That water is contaminated and is poison,” he said.
Read: Phalaborwa: Newborn baby boy found dead at dumping site
Mathebula said that he blamed the municipality for neglecting the sewage lines and they end up the dam.
“What is worse is that my cattle drink this water and if they die, we will claim from the municipality,” said Mathebula.
“Even worse is that the boss has allowed people to enter this area for free in order for them to fish and sell the fish to people. So now that the fish is dying, we wonder what will be left for these poor people,” stated Abraham also exclaiming that he was very disappointed with the Municipality for not fixing the sewage.
“Why don’t they pump this sewage to their sewage lines, but instead they are pumping it into this dam where Lulekani people and surrounding areas come for fishing,” Mathebula concluding with a question.
The Herald contacted the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality Spokesperson, Jonas Mahesu, and he visited the scene. Mahesu said that they will be conducting an investigation and will give feedback.
