Sewage overflow causes water woes for Harding farmer
In a similar incident in 2019, Bertie Strydom suffered a huge loss when six cows died and 12 calves were stillborn. Since then he says he has incurred losses of over R200,000.
Harding farmer, Bertie Strydom is fed up with the regular sewage overflows which have contaminated the river system in the area, putting his cattle at risk.
An overflow into the Umzimkhulwana River three weeks ago has forced Mr Strydom to source water elsewhere for his 127 cattle.
In a similar incident in 2019, he suffered a huge loss when six cows died and 12 calves were stillborn. Since then he says he has incurred losses of over R200,000.
During the early stages of lockdown, a bad odour emanating from the river prompted him to investigate. “Just as well I did, otherwise I would have only found out when my cows started aborting.
“There is a little bit of water in the river system and we are not expecting any more rain. That water is now contaminated. I have a big issue as most of my grazing has river frontage and the Umzimkhulwana River winds through my farm for about 7km,” said Mr Strydom.
He added that as he cannot graze his cattle anywhere near the river, he is now also running into trouble with feed.
“I have to start feeding my cattle and hauling water. It costs me R600 a day to fetch water with a tractor twice a day from the Mkhondwana River which is 4km away. I need 6 000 litres a day but I only have a 3 000 litre tank, so it’s two trips a day.”
He said all he wants is clean drinking water for his animals.
According to Mr Strydom, the lockdown has hit him hard financially. “Sometimes if the tractor breaks down, I have to buy water. Some 6 000 litres costs me R1,200.”
One of the sources of the sewage overflow is, he says, the Shepstone Street pump station.”The pump station should have a holding dam while the breakdown is being dealt with.”
Another source is leaking pipes in town. He said he has been farming in the area for 35 years and had no problems in the early years.
Mr Strydom has contacted Ugu District Municipality on numerous occasions but has had no luck with a permanent solution to the problem.
“The municipality is relying on us to report pollution and then they will fix it,” he said.
The Herald contacted Ugu for comment on four occasions: June 9, June 15, June 18 and June 22 and to date has not received any response. The municipality only acknowledged receipt of the query on June 15.
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