Entire fish colony at Rusty Hook killed by suspected chemical pollution upstream
Water from the dam has been sent for testing and toxicology report is pending
Natural splendour suffers when the equilibrium between it and industry is disturbed.
Often a hub of entertainment, the quieter moments around Rusty Hook are equally valuable. Sharing a name that alludes to the establishment’s strong connection to fish and fishing, a toxic silence has fallen over the Wilge Road venue. Suffocating to death, the entire fish colony of Rusty Hook’s small dam died on Wednesday, September 21, after pollutants made the water uninhabitable.
Rusty Hook sits nestled in the picturesque rolling hills but is becoming increasingly surrounded by manufacturers and chemical waste producing businesses that residents believe are to blame. The dam contained roughly 100 carp, bass and barbel from specialist breeders that were purposefully brought in to reinvigorate the waters three years ago after a similar incident occurred.
Jan Nortjé, known to the Rusty Hook faithful as Oom Jan, left the venue on Saturday night, September 17, noticing a unnatural smell coming from the water. The situation worsened and by Wednesday the fish began to bob looking for air but by the end of the day staff were using a net and dingy to remove the fish from the water.
“Some of these fish were golden and if you look at their gills, they looked like they had been bleached. Their gills were burning,” said an enraged Oom Jan.
City of Johannesburg’s environmental health department was contacted as they are obliged to retrieve the fish for testing but two days later still had not arrived despite several phone calls. The fish were being kept in a skip at the bottom of the parking area but most had to be incinerated on Friday as the smell became unbearable while waiting for officials.
Compounding his anger, Oom Jan relayed the excuse he was given by the environmental health officials for their delayed response.
“They said they would not be able to come because they were preparing for their Heritage Day braai,” he said. “This here is heritage – what are we going to leave for our children and their children?” he fumed, gesturing to the now lifeless water.
Honeydew resident and newly appointed committee member of Honeydew Residents Association, Shirley Bosman, was present at Rusty Hook as the fish were being siphoned from the water. Shirley, along with other concerned residents, have been tracking possible water polluters who border the Wilgespruit tributaries. Previous testing of the water stream done in May revealed dangerous levels of toxins and very low oxygenation of the water.
Many have rallied alongside Bosman and coordinated efforts at identifying the sources of the foamy discharge found along the river system in the area are underway. The City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department were sent questions on the matter on Tuesday, September 27, and their feedback will be relayed when forthcoming. The greatest rivers begin as a trickle but the torrent will build in pursuit of those destroying the irretrievable.
