Wetlands in the city get new lease on life
An EIA application has been sent to the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) for authorisation to carry out the rehabilitation of erosion on the banks of streams in the city.
MBOMBELA – After a successful litter clean-up early in October, the attention has shifted to the city’s wetlands and parks. An action plan is in the pipeline to ensure that Mbombela’s wetlands get cleaned up.
The municipality has also decided to create job opportunities in the fight to rid the city of unwanted criminals, and unsavoury elements.
According to Mr Sihle Mthembu of Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), council is currently in the process of acquiring an expert to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the city’s wetland areas.
“An EIA application has been sent to the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) for authorisation to carry out the rehabilitation of erosion on the banks of streams in the city,” stated Mthembu.
Erosion now poses a great danger to the surrounding households.
Most streams are highly infested by alien plants which have grown on the bed and this makes it easier for criminals to hide.
“The criminals now use streams as a hideouts. Mentally disturbed people also live there leaving a lot of waste which subsequently blocks the drainage pipes further downstream when it rains,” said Mthembu.
“The suitable service provider will be appointed before the Christmas holidays and the actual EIA investigations should begin in January 2015.
Once the environmental authorisation is obtained,
the rehabilitation will then start,” he added.
Working for Water has also joined in the campaign and has regularly cleaned wetlands in the past two weeks.
According to Mr André Scheepers of Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa) the community need to adopt the correct mindset and be willing to keep their own areas clean.
“We need to drive this campaign to make it successful. Community involvement is important and it is as easy as keeping your area tidy and taking ownership,” he said.
According to Mr Amos Shabangu, waste manager at MLM, the clean-up process has a number of difficulties. “We cannot place a rubbish bin in just any area as we have previously experienced these rubbish bins being either burned, stolen or vandalised. It has to be in strategic spots that can be monitored,” he said.
“Rehabilitation of the streams is also very important.
“It is also vital to know what to cut and what to leave in terms of alien plantations in wetlands,” he stated.
