Our rivers run red

THE state of Toti’s rivers is not unique to the ‘Cinderella southern suburbs’, but is indicative of a general malaise that has befallen most rivers and estuaries in our country.
Being at the coast simply means that we are at the receiving end of all the pollution along the entire river’s length. A host of social factors result in people using rivers for various purposes, and these range from washing to bathing and even drinking.
However, more needs to be done to ensure the state of our rivers and the life that they sustain, both directly and indirectly, is maintained. A pollutant that entered the Winkle River course at the weekend has resulted in a fish kill that numbers in the hundreds, as well as several young Egyptian geese and cormorant chicks.
The water was left with an oily residue and it is unknown what long-term effect this substance may have on the waterway. In this same edition, the new Sapphire Coast Tourism committee has identified crime as a major concern. And rightly so. However, the area’s natural assets – the sparkling waters of its coastline and rivers among them – are equally significant in bringing tourists to the area. More needs to be done to ensure that not only the tourism heritage of this beautiful stretch of coastline is preserved, but also the ecological heritage.