The plight of Ncandu River hangs in the balance

Will Ncandu River ever be restored to its former glory?

Earlier this year, Newcastle Municipality launched a clean-up campaign to tend to the cataclysmic state of the river.

On September 18, the Newcastle Advertiser requested comment as to the progress of the project.

Despite several calls and emails to the head of the municipal Communications Department, no response was forthcoming.

The following questions were forwarded to the department to be addressed by September 22:

1. Is the river cleaned on a weekly basis?

2. How much progress has been made to date?

3. How long is the clean up campaign scheduled to run for?

4. When will the new equipment be acquired?

5. Who is in charge of the campaign?

6. While clearing the water lettuce is the first step in making a change, what is being done to ensure raw sewage does not continue spilling into the river?

7. In terms of a long-term solution to the issue, are plans being put in place to curb further pollution?

On October 27, Mayor, Afzul Rehman intervened and issued the following statement in response to the enquiry:

“The clean up has begun a few months ago. We have brought in specialized equipment to remove the lettuce.”

Councillor Rehman said the municipality would continue its work until its funds were exhausted.

“At this moment, we are still sourcing funds from the Department of Water and Sanitation. We have also refurbished all sewer pump stations in the vicinity of the river to ensure no spillage,” he concluded.

While some questions remain unanswered, it seems there may well be new hope for Newcastle’s troubled waters.