Contamination of Vaal River thwarts search party for missing man
“So yet again, raw sewage is being released into the Vaal River, Standerton,” Mr Andries Lee said.
Delta1 Rescue Diving, Mpumalanga Inland Water Policing and Police’s K9-Search and Rescue Unit attended to a possible drowning scene at the Vaal River in Standerton the past week.
According to information, a call was received on Saturday, July 24 in the late afternoon regarding a possible drowning scene.
The teams were mobilised and on arrival, found out from a friend of the missing person, that the person has been missing since July 16.
A search was undertook and for two days, no body could be found.
“So yet again, raw sewage is being released into the Vaal River, Standerton,” Mr Andries Lee said.
“Unbelievable how this is allowed.
“Making it difficult once more for the teams to search for a missing person.
“It is truly heartbreaking.”
A video of the search party is available on www.ridgetimes.co za.
The Standerton Advertiser has given extensive coverage to the pollution of the Vaal River and mentioned AfriForum’s involvement with testing of water quality as well.
Investigation was done in Azalea in 2020 to see first-hand raw sewage flowing to the river.
The areas behind Berg Street and behind Laerskool Jeugkrag are also examples of contaminated water flowing to the river via a stream.
Mr Lee also said diving was made impossible since no eyewitness is present.
The teams are continuing the search.
Kasselman Security Services were thanked for their unfailing assistance when looking for missing persons in the area.
The newspaper sent a WhatsApp-message to the communications manager of the Lekwa Municipality, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, on Thursday, July 29 in which the question was asked whether pollution of the river will be prioritised.
Mention was made of the frustration and sheer dismay of the divers.
Comment is awaited.
