The issue of the hideous pollution at Centurion Lake has continued to be a thorn in the side of stakeholders and business owners, who are requesting that the matter be taken seriously by the Tshwane metro.
Professor Piet Ackermann, a stakeholder in a business at Centurion Mall, addressed this issue as a matter of urgency with Wilma Lutsch from the Department of Environmental Affairs on behalf of several business owners and clients who are seriously, and negatively, impacted by this completely unacceptable environmental situation. The tremendous stench and unsightly pollution does not reflect a proudly South African image nor does it do justice to the ‘Igniting Excellence’ slogan of the City of Tshwane.
“This matter was taken up by me in August 2008, during which Jan van den Berg, the chief of Environmental Information, informed me that he was aware of and in the process of addressing this disaster,” Ackermann said.
According to Ackermann, the following matters should receive immediate attention: the health hazard caused by the state of the Centurion Lake; the unbearable stench caused by the “rotten” state of the lake; the negative effect on business owners running their businesses from Centurion Mall; the negative impact on property values in the affected area; the negative impact on biodiversity conservation; the negative effects on tourism potential; and the negative effect on the image of the Tshwane metro.
“In spite of meetings with stakeholders, a letter from the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, dating back to August/September 2008, indicated that the matter was a provincial responsibility and that the complaint was forwarded by them to the provincial minister’s office. The situation regarding Centurion Lake has worsened and now needs to be addressed immediately,” Ackermann said.
“Currently, restaurants, for instance, have no option but to close their windows, because the unpleasant smell has become unbearable and the result is that they lose their patrons. Business owners also pay a substantial rent fee. To refer to the situation as unacceptable is an understatement,” Ackermann added.
Ackermann suggested that an arrangement be made with environmental health inspectors and other authorities to visit the lake immediately to assess the unhealthy and hazardous environmental situation and to put an immediate interim and long-term plan in place to solve the problem.
Ward Councillor Christa Spoelstra has been actively involved with council meetings regarding the rehabilitation of the Hennops River and Centurion Lake. According to her, the Tshwane metro and the City of Johannesburg have tried to engage with Ekurhuleni to put their plans for possible solutions on the table. The negotiations require the cooperation of all affected parties to be effective. Spoelstra said the long-term plans for silt and litter traps have shown progress and public participation will soon be opened.
Ward councillor Clive Napier addressed the crisis regarding Centurion Lake and the Hennops River at a council meeting in October. “The short-term and long-term measures have been talked about for years. I question whether there should not be a radical rethinking of the short-term measures in progress,” he said in his speech.
According to Napier, the dredging of the lake has been an ongoing for years. It is expensive, there are technical difficulties involved and also environmental implications. “Perhaps one should forget about talking about the rehabilitation of the lake and rather talk about the upgrading of the lake area,” Napier suggested.
“Maybe one should not think about reducing the size of the former lake area, but perhaps returning silt to the old lake area and creating a new feature such as an indigenous park accessible to visitors.”
Furthermore, Napier suggested to the council that creative thinking could well be the way to address the short-term solutions. The business community and other stakeholders should be approached for new and viable alternatives for the old lake area, he suggested.
“We cannot go on the way we have been over the past five or so years. The condition of the old lake area has had major implications for business in the area. Some creative thinking involving all role players in the area is necessary,” Napier emphasised.
