Latest NewsLocal newsMunicipalNewsUpdate
UPDATE: Public fears confirmed – Don’t drink the water
“Our country has clear health standards to which drinking water must comply," states Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs for AfriForum. "To avoid further incidents like Bloemhof in 2014 where three babies died, water has to be managed sustainably and according to the standards.”
ACCORDING to a report by AfriForum, results of water samples taken of the municipal drinking water of Vryheid recently have revealed the presence of total and faecal coliform bacteria.
Samples were taken by AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator in KwaZulu-Natal, Chris Fourie last week following complaints about the unpleasant taste and smell of the drinking water. These samples were sent to the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) who, today, confirmed public fears that Vryheid’s drinking water is, in fact, not safe for human consumption.
“The problem is more that the coliform bacteria usually goes hand in hand with the presence of a spectrum of much more dangerous viruses, bacteria and even fungi. In South Africa it is often reported that traces of cholera were found in water like this,” says Fourie.
According to AfriForum’s report, several cases of severe diarrhoea and cholera-like symptoms have been reported by residents of Vryheid and surrounding areas.
According to AfriForum’s report, several cases of severe diarrhoea and cholera-like symptoms have been reported by residents of Vryheid and surrounding areas.
“Our country has clear health standards to which drinking water must comply,” states Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs for AfriForum. “To avoid further incidents like Bloemhof in 2014 where three babies died, water has to be managed sustainably and according to the standards.”
AfriForum advises the community of Vryheid to avoid consumption of the municipal drinking water and to use bottled water instead until such time as the matter has been resolved. AfriForum will be in contact with the local authorities today to make plans to solve the crisis.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
