The DA’s Steve Tshwete Constituency Chair, Elsi Vermooten, who is currently standing as candidate for the Gholfsig ward told the Middelburg Observer that a dredge was arranged to drain the coal slurry that has filled one of the ponds, and that the clean-up process started on Thursday.

The slick-spill was noticed on May 15, after club member, Ms. Karin van Deventer’s Labrador returned pitch-black from a swim during one of their walks.

It was determined that one of Izimbiwa Coal’s slurry dams broke, causing the slick to build up within the pond to such a degree, that all water was pushed into ponds further downstream where water was polluted by the sludge.

Ms. Van Deventer expressed concern over the impact the spill had made on the natural environment after dead fish and a dwindling birdlife was observed around the affected ponds.
She also pointed out the possible contamination of underground water as well as every natural water body downstream, including the Merriespruit and Klein Olifants River.