AfriForum sent letters of demand to three Metropolitan municipalities today (Monday)‚ demanding action to stop the pollution of the Kalkspruit and Hennops River.
“The water quality of the Hennops River is currently on the same level as raw sewage‚” Tarien Cooks‚ AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for Gauteng North‚ said in a statement.
The organisation said that the main sources of pollution occur in the areas of Ivory Park‚ Tembisa‚ Olifantsfontein and Erasmia due to overflowing manholes‚ lack of sanitation facilities and maintenance‚ and waste water treatment works not complying with legal limits.
AfriForum also demanded the Department of Water and Sanitation take action against the culprits.
“The continuous pollution of the watercourse is criminal. The government is the custodian and regulator of water resources and it must protect our constitutional rights and ensure the health and safety of all the people and our environment‚” said Julius Kleynhans‚ AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs.
AfriForum gathered water samples from the Hennops River and according to the results‚ more than 1 000 000 units of E. coli per 100 ml are present in the water. However‚ it said‚ the norm in an aquatic environment should be less than 200 units per 100 ml to ensure a healthy ecosystem.
RDM News Wire.
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