Rescue divers are concerned about pollution and sewage in water sources around Govan Mbeki Municipality
Mr Lee said in one specific case they had to wait for seven days before the drown victim came to surface.
HIGHVELD – In a space of a month, Delta1 Rescue Diving, Mpumalanga Inland Water Policing and Police K9 Search & Rescue have attended 12 drowning scenes.
With the rainy season here, school holidays around the corner and hotter day’s fast approaching, these numbers could see a high increase.
However, water conditions play a major role and retrieving a drowning victim is not as easy as it would look or seem.
The Ridge Times recently reported about sewage flowing from the Bethal Milan Park pump station which goes into the Blesbokspruit and then to the Vaal Dam.
Divers, Mr Andries Lee and Sgt Jaco Nagel, said they face huge challenges when having to retrieve drowning victims from sewage infested water.
eMbalenhle, Bethal and Standerton are some of the most challenging areas for these divers because of sewage spills.
“Firstly, we look at the quality of the water. Most of the time, especially in the lower part of Standerton and eMbalenhle, sewage flows into these rivers.
“It makes it difficult for us. We have to wait for the body to surface instead of responding and being able to retrieve the body quicker,” said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee said in one specific case they had to wait for seven days before the drowning victim came to the surface.
“We were unable to dive and search for the victim because of the sewage that was streaming into the dam.”
Other areas of concern are eMbalenhle Gate 6, 7 and 8 where there are not only challenges of sewage, but also refuse being discarded on the banks.
“People use this area as a dumping site as well, you will find dead cattle that have been slaughtered and the remains are thrown into the water.”
“Even the Duck Pond and surrounding dams in Secunda are cause for concern. All our dams are being polluted by sewage running into it.
“It makes it very difficult for us to dive, not just in Standerton, eMbalenhle and Bethal, but all over,” said Mr Lee.
He said that it also affects costs and resources having to travel on a daily basis to the scene and back until the victim had surfaced.
“We are not allowed to dive in contaminated water if we do not have the right equipment.”
Besides diving for drowning victims, and searching for missing people, Delta1 Rescue also retrieves illegal fishing nets together with the Mpumalanga Inland Water Policing. Diving gear used especially for contaminated waters is said to cost around R100 000.
Delta1 Rescue is a non-profitable organisation which relies on funding through businesses and the public.
They work hand in hand with the police, MavCorp, SASSI Missing and Wanted and NSRI.
If you want to know more about Delta1 Rescue, visit their Facebook page or go to www.delta1rescue.co.za
