Clean-up not progressing as planned

The cards seem to be stacked against Newcastle Municipality, as work continues to purify the plagued waters of Ncandu River.

Last month, Strategic Executive Director for Technical Services, Lindile Zincume, confirmed ‘natural predators’ were released into the river to retard the growth rate of Pistia stratiotes, or ‘water cabbage’.

While the efficacy of the biological method is being closely monitored, Mr Zincume said it was too soon to ascertain whether a proverbial breakthrough had been made.

“There has been good rains which have moved some of the weeds, and process of monitoring is ongoing.”

Questioned on the exact cost of renting the machinery used during physical extractions, Mr Zincume said the rates were obtained through a tender process.

“The rate used were R680 per hour (for the excavator), R300 per hour (for the 10 cubic metre truck) and R450 per hour (for the 20 cubic metre tipper truck),” he explained.

Despite extractions being carried out in various locations, Mr Zincume previously stated the aquatic pests could grow back with 12 days in the right conditions.

“The municipality is reviewing the cleaning in line with the reduction of budget and need[s] to implement austerity measures,” he said.

The Department of Environmental Affairs came to the municipality’s aid earlier this year, offering to send a service provider to carry out an ‘aerial spraying’.

Stakeholders anticipated this would take place in the first week of February. However, the proposed undertaking has yet to materialise.

“We are unable to provide the exact dates. The weather has an impact on whether the pilot who is responsible for flying to Newcastle will be able to come through on the dates proposed by the environmental department.”

Mr Zincume said the projected timeline for the Ncandu River clean-up campaign was dependent on the availability of the budget.

Although the municipality applied for funding amounting to R5-million from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), it was recently disclosed no funds would be made available at this stage.

“The municipality is, however, awaiting a directive from DWS of the possibility of using available grant funding to perform river cleaning.”

As development stagnates week after week, Newcastle residents remain vocal about their unmitigated disgust regarding the state of the river, and after-effects of the initial clean-up.

Now, it appears Newcastle Municipality shares the community’s sentiments.

“The clean-up campaign is not progressing as was anticipated due to the need to appropriately use available funds,” concluded Mr Zincume.

Predators, excavators, and promises aside, a simple fact remains: drastic intervention is imperative.