Afriforum takes up water quality with city manager
AfriForum has placed the eThekwini Municipality municipal manager on terms over the illegal sewage spill that took place earlier in the year in Bernadotte Street.
Recent water tests were conducted by AfriForum in the channel next to Bernadotte Street as part of the organisation’s Blue and Green Drop branch campaign. Tests were done to determine how safe the water is for human consumption and the environment.
A Toti resident approached AfriForum at the end of August for assistance with this specific sewage spill after she read about our Blue and Green Drop campaign in the media,” said AfriForum provincial spokesman, Chris Fourie. AfriForum launched a national project focusing on the efficacy of drinking water and sewerage plants in towns across South Africa. “We do not focus on the condition of the plants as such, but on the quality of the drinking water (Blue Drop) as well as treated sewerage water (Green Drop) from the plant.”
Water samples were taken from the site on 28 August by BN Kirk and tests were conducted on the same day. Results indicate there were more than 10,000 units per 100ml of Ecoli and faecal
coliforms in the water. The government norm is less than 1,000 units.
“The water is not fit for any consumption, not for humans nor animals. The municipality has replaced the sewage pipes in Bernadotte Street, but according to the tests, sewage is still dumped into the channel. Illegal sewage spills are crimes and AfriForum will not allow municipalities to disregard the law. We appeal to residents to identity sewage leaks and keep children away from these areas.
A letter was emailed to the municipal manager, Sibusiso Sithole on 19 September.”
According to Chris the municipal manager controls all municipal affairs and is therefore accountable. The five days the municipal manager had to respond expired on 26 September.
On 14 October we will conduct another test in the river and lagoon and if the results still exceed the norm, a criminal complaint will be registered against the municipal manager with the South African Police Service. We will also apply for a court interdict to force the municipality or the waters affairs department to resolve the issue.”
