Standerton’s sheer polluted water flows into Vaal River

The tranquility of the Vaal River at the Standerton River Park belies the severity of the sewage and water problem.

More than one role player in Standerton is tackling sewage and water challenges, notably so the intent of Lekwa Ratepayers Association to establish a functioning waste water treatment plant by using the newly-found business chamber, as well as the Surviving Lekwa-group.

The Vaal River’s pollution recently saw four open-water swimmers swimming the river to raise awareness of its contamination and to help seek solutions.

The ‘Swim for Rivers’-campaign with Messrs Andrew Chin and Craig Bishop from Cape Town, along with Ms Mandy Uys and Ms Joy Roach from East London, took on the challenge.

The Standerton Advertiser saw the activities on Sunday, 7 March at 9.30am where the swimmers and the community were cleaning the Standerton River Park. Lekwa Clean Up Crew (LCUC) was also present and helped to clean the area.

The newspaper spoke to Mr Chin on Monday, 8 March, who said almost every small town in the country is facing the problem of a lack of municipal awareness about polluted rivers.

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has already issued a report on sewage pollution of the Vaal River and mentioned the abuse of human rights.

According to the report, the Vaal River, Gauteng’s most vital water resource, may have been irreparably damaged since polluted water flows into the Vaal Dam.

The report also said the consequences of pollution could result in a string of legitimate civil claims against the Department of Water and Sanitation for damages, as provided for in the National Water Act.

According to a radio bulletin of Wednesday, 24 March, the executive mayor of the Emfuleni Municipality, Rev Gift Moerane, visited a site in Vanderbijlpark and said sewage pollution has finally stopped.

Back on home turf, the intersection at Coligny and Schwickard Streets, was given coverage on the Facebook-page of SAVE the Vaal Environment in the past.

Mr Michael Gaade of SAVE the Vaal Environment said on 4 December last year that whatever is dumped in Standerton, becomes their problem. “Even though SAVE only has a mandate to oversee the Vaal River from the Vaal Dam to Parys, any of the sewage treatment plants around the Vaal Dam and upstream to Standerton that are not operating to specification, will pollute the dam, which is Gauteng’s main water supply.”

The Standerton Advertiser published an article in December last year after investigating the conditions at Bergenheim Complex in Berg Street and near Laerskool Jeugkrag.

Blocked manholes create a stream of water which later joins a stream behind Laerskool Jeugkrag in Florapark, on its way to the river.

The municipal manager of the Lekwa Municipality, Ms Gugulethu Mhlongo-Ntshangase, came under scrutiny and two DA-councillors laid charges against her for inter alia the Vaal River pollution.

AfriForum was also vocal in this regard and said the Department of Water and Sanitation does not fulfill its obligation to enforce legislation, when municipal authorities are the guilty parties.

The newspaper has already sent a message, via Whatsapp, in February to the communications manager of the municipality, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, enquiring whether Lekwa has put any plans in place to address pollution of the Vaal River.

An e-mail had also been sent to Mr Gaade of SAVE the Vaal Environment for his take on sewage pollution and another was sent on 24 March, specifically for his comment on what Rev Moerane said.

Calls and messages to Surviving Lekwa went unanswered on more than one occasion.

The aim was to hear straight from the horse’s mouth about the intended court case against Lekwa where attorneys are seeking a high court application.

A WhatsApp-message of enquiry was also sent to the chairman of the business chamber, Mr Gary van Aswegen, in this regard.