BETHAL – The FF Plus in Mpumalanga lodged a complaint with the Green Scorpions about sewage pollution in the province.
The areas of concern are Bethal in Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mbombela Local Municipality (Hazyview), Lekwa Local Municipality (Standerton) and Emalahleni Local Municipality (Witbank).
Mr Werner Weber, FF Plus MPL and provincial leader for Mpumalanga, said the FF Plus lodged a complaint with the acting chief director of Environmental Affairs, Land and the Green Scorpions in Mpumalanga, Ms Pamela Ntuli, about the constant and serious sewage dumping in the province.
“There are quite a number of areas in the province that raise serious concerns about the failure of municipal infrastructure. The municipalities’ ineptness has resulted in natural resources being flooded with untreated human waste, which will have a long-term negative impact on the environment as well as the people living there,” said Mr Weber.
The Ridge Times reported on 31 July about residents living in the area of Mark Street down to eMzinoni, who are surrounded by a sewage swamp.
Flamingos, among many other bird species seeking insects in the infested sewage wetland and a farmer’s livestock grazing grass close by, were exposed to this toxic health hazard that is not only dangerous to nature, but also humans.
A resident who wants to remain anonymous said: “I have been battling for months with sinus and bronchitis because of this disgusting air. “We complained to the municipality, but nothing is being done about this. This has been ongoing for many years.”
She has been living in her home for 39 years and every year they dread the summer.
“In the summer you cannot sit outside or open windows. The stench is unbearable; you are continuously surrounded by insects and flies.”
The sewage flows into eMzinoni, surrounding it.
The effluent also flows directly into the Blesbokspruit which feeds into the Vaal River.
The FF Plus said that three of Bethal’s sewage pump stations have not been functioning for a very long time now.
“One pump was removed in December, supposedly for repairs, but to this day it has not yet been replaced. And ever since, sewage has been flowing freely into the Blesbokspruit.
“The pollution is so serious that toilet paper and grey water are visible from a bridge, 12km outside of town, that runs across the tributary. This problem must be addressed at once. The FF Plus is of the opinion that the Green Scorpions must implement the necessary intervention strategies to combat the pollution and must also determine how much damage has already been done to the natural resources.”
The Ridge Times received a response from GMM as follows:
“Bethal has 10 pump stations and only one, Milan Park pump station, is not working which was vandalised in September.
“The repair arrangements for the pump station are underway and the facility section was requested to install burglar proofing to prevent vandalism. It must be noted that Bethal is experiencing regular electricity outages due to reduced NMD by Eskom and power outages are also affecting the pump station.”
GMM said one of the pumps was removed in December and was replaced with a standby pump, however, since then the original pump has been fixed and the pump station is in working order.
“GMM has the maintenance plans for pump stations and they are maintained on a regular basis. Plans are in place for strengthening the security to prevent vandalism which affects the pumping of sewage to the wastewater treatment works.”
