Environment MEC washes hands of AMD issue

During a committee meeting Faith Mazibuko, Gauteng MEC for the Environment claimed that the acid mine drainage (AMD) issue in the province is solely a national competency.

Of the three basins in Gauteng identified with AMD, the western basin is the smallest.

“While legislation may support this, the MEC cannot simply turn her back on an increasingly dangerous environmental situation directly impacting this province,” says DA spokesperson on the Environment in Gauteng, Jahno Engelbrecht.

“The MEC even went as far as to claim that AMD could be safe to drink despite any clear evidence to support this.

“The fact remains that current processes to treat AMD are not working sufficiently. Lime-dosing the water removes heavy metals but what remains is heavily salinised. Without a proper de-salinisation process this water is then emptied into fresh-water river systems in Gauteng.”

According to the World Health Organisation, these salt levels should not exceed the recommended level of 200mg per litre. Lime-dosing AMD currently leaves the water with a salt level of 2500mg per litre.

“The health and environmental implications of this contamination are likely to be far-reaching and will impact irrigation, drinking water, river systems and aquatic life.

“The MEC should set up an urgent meeting with the relevant national departments to discuss the way forward instead of turning her back on this issue.

“She also should refrain from radical claims regarding the safety of this water before proper studies have been conducted and the core of this problem has been resolved,” says Engelbrecht.

Related article:

• Gauteng government’s plan to manage AMD