DEAR Editor,-
We have an objection to your media reporting on matters concerning the Kongweni River and we request that you be more explicit as to the area of the river you report on.
The articles/reports in your newspaper, the South Coast Herald, give the public the impression that the entire Kongweni River is badly E.Coli-polluted.
The Kongweni River Conservancy is a registered conservancy, Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) and Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) approved.
Members are involved in a water monitoring project, whereby we take samples of the river water and have them analysed and okayed by Ugu for the E.Coli content. I have the results in my possession.
We monitor in three places, at source (east side under the bridge on the old main road opposite Sebenza farm dam (Kong 3), Alexander Ave (at the bridge just off Winston Rd (Kong1)), and just before the river passes under the highway (Kong2), I think it is the R 61. This project has been in effect since August 2012, and we have never had a bad reading at Kong 2, which leads onto the Ugu Margate waste waterworks and is proof to us that when the Kongweni River flow leaves our area, it is not badly polluted.
The conservancy is working hard to maintain, preserve and improve the trails, natural flora and fauna in the conservancy area. The positive water testing results give us comfort and knowledge that local folk, who wish to walk and explore the area and cross the river, have no doubts about any E.Coli pollution concerns.
We wish to keep it that way and to encourage locals to come along and walk and explore. Thus, we request that you are more explicit when reporting the area’s involved, ie sea-side of the waste water works, east of the waste water works, or, the lower areas/reaches of the river.
GARY HOLBURN
Chairman
Kongweni River Conservancy
Editor’s note: In the Herald of February 28, page 14, the source of the pollution was pinpointed as the Margate sewerage works.
