Muddy conditions hamper slurry clean-up
Residents are noticing the sad decline of fish and birdlife while the coal slick remains and the clock keeps ticking.
The coal-slick spill coming from one of Izimbiwa Coal’s slurry dams continues to pose a risk to the natural environment of the Gholfsig and Clubville neighbourhoods, as muddy conditions have hampered the clean-up process being led by contractors in the mining group’s employment.
The clean-up, which was launched in mid-June, seems to have ground to a halt with the coal slick still visibly stagnating in the pond near fairway number four, as well as contaminating ponds and water bodies downstream.
According to DA Ward Councillor Elsie Vermooten, the contractor commissioned to dredge the slurry out of the pond is experiencing difficulty due to muddy conditions, often resulting in the truck sinking away into the wet ground.
Mounds of construction aggregate have been driven onto the golf course to create a road for the truck and prevent it from sinking away in the rough of the fairway, which banks the marshland area.
During a site visit made by the Middelburg Observer, deep furrows were seen in the aggregate, clearly indicating that the truck continues to get stuck regardless of the pebbled road.
A resident near the golf course confirmed that the clean-up crew was last seen early last week, and that work has since stood still.
• The slick spill came to the attention of Izimbiwa Coal on May 15, after being reported by the Middelburg Country Club. Since then, multiple meetings and several site inspections by officials have been made, with an official clean-up only being launched on June 22.
The coal slurry, which has incapacitated the pond at fairway four, continues to run downstream, contaminating other ponds as well as flowing into the Merriespruit and Klein Olifants River.
Multiple dead fish have been observed, and the ample birdlife surrounding the area also continues to dwindle.
In response to a media enquiry, Izimbiwa Coal confirmed that the company is aware of the spill and that the break in their slurry dam has been repaired, as well as extra measures to accommodate future rainfall. They further confirmed that a timeframe for the clean-up has been set up and handed over to the Department of Water Affairs.
Izimbiwa Coal has further refused the opportunity to comment.
