21 September 2021

19 million residents dependent on the Vaal River were at serious risk due to being exposed to pollution and raw sewage.

Deputy President Mabuza, in his capacity as the chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water and Sanitation, will visit the troubled Vaal River and the Kroonstad Waste Water Treatment Plant.

During the visit, he will meet with stakeholders to solve the pollution crisis at the Vaal River.

Mabuza will also visit the Kroonstad Waste Water Treatment Plant to check if corrective measures are being implemented to restore the functionality of the plant.

The visit is also to see if the correct infrastructure maintenance and operation systems are put in place to avoid further sewage leakage into the Integrated Vaal River System.
Mabuza visits Vaal River and Kroonstad Waste Water

In 2018, residents complained that raw sewage from the south of Johannesburg was running into the Vaal River, its tributaries and residential streets in the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

The contract between City of Johannesburg and the Emfuleni Local Municipality stated that sewage running out of parts of Johannesburg was supposed to be treated at the cash-strapped municipality’s waste-water works.

But poor maintenance, vandalism and ageing infrastructure led to the near-collapse of the municipality’s sewerage infrastructure, prompting the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to launch an investigation to determine who is to blame for the growing health hazard.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water And Sanitation was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year to provide overall political leadership and oversight on the implementation of interventions, to support the Emfuleni Local Municipality in resolving the pollution of the Vaal River.

Mabuza will be accompanied by Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo and the mayor of Moqhaka Local Municipality Mpho Chakane.


Source: The Citizen