The Montreux Record, established in Switzerland, is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
The Blesbokspruit was placed on the record in 1996 after it was contaminated with water from the Grootvlei Mine, but this threat dissipated after the mine stopped pumping operations in 1998.
• Read: More raw sewage flowing into Blesbokspruit
Van der Merwe says it is not a good thing to have the spruit included on this record.
“The Montreux Record is for environmental sites that are experiencing serious ecological problems, both for humans and wildlife, and is the equivalent of a person being blacklisted.
“Of importance is that it is still maintained as part of the Ramsar List although the threat to spruit has virtually disappeared, probably since 1998.
“Yet, very little effort has been made to remove it from the Montreux Record,” says Charl.
He adds a couple of meetings were held in the past to remove the Blesbokspruit from the Montreux Record.
Two meetings were held in the second half of 2016 and three so far this year of which the most important one was held in the first quarter to get the public’s consent to have it removed.
• Also read: Repairs to Blesbokspruit boardwalk completed
Charl says at the meeting the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) was given the go-ahead for this.
“Following that meeting, two more meetings were held, which were well represented by senior staff from GDARD and the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
“Although this wetland is of international importance, which is not only an asset for the Ekurhuleni Metro but for the country and the world at large, the metro seems to have distanced itself from this process,” says Charl.
No comment on the issue was received from the metro at the time of publishing.
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