No accountability for Vaal River crisis, SAHRC report reveals
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) deems the pollution at the Vaal River to be beyond acceptable standards.
A report probing the pollution of the Vaal River finds that none of the government parties central to the saga has taken accountability for the pollution of the river which the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says is “beyond acceptable standards”.
BLAME SHIFTING BY PARTIES CENTRAL TO VAAL RIVER CRISIS
In a webinar hosted by the Mail and Guardian on Wednesday 17 February, outlining the contents of the report, it is revealed that the Emfuleni Local Municipality, the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) have over the course of the SAHRC’s investigation – which began in 2018 – shifted the blame to other parties – including one another – for the crisis at the Vaal River.
Vaal river polluted beyond acceptable levels , cabinet must intervene - SAHRC mg.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mg.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PREMIUM! Raw sewage flowing into the Vaal River from pump stations in the Emfuleni municipality‚ posing environmental and health risks. Communities affected by the pollution include Vereeniging‚ Sebokeng‚ Boipatong and Sharpeville. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
Pollution along the Vaal River, dam and barrage systems has been deemed a human rights violation, attributed to the Emfuleni Local Municipality, an inquiry conducted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) announced on Wednesday. The SAHRC first noted ongoing pollution leaking into the Vaal River from Rietspruit Wastewater Treatment Works in Vanderbijlpark, Leewkuil Wastewater Treatment Works in Vereeniging, and other areas within Emfuleni in 2018. The 19 million residents dependent on the Vaal River are now confirmed to be at serious risk due to being exposed to pollution and raw sewage, a series of inactions which have resulted,.
Vaal River sewage contamination a crisis, human rights dailymaverick.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymaverick.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
No respite for sewage-saddled, in-the-dark, water-starved Emfuleni residents
The municipality, which sprawls along the north bank of the Vaal River near Vereeniging, is one of Gauteng’s most densely populated areas, with Sebokeng, Evaton, Sharpeville, and Boipatong townships lying within its boundaries.
In what is yet another sorry twist to the multitude of crises engulfing the Emfuleni Municipality, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Lebogang Maile recently announced that the initial team of administrators “were not up to the job” and had to be replaced.
The Emfuleni Municipality was placed under administration in June 201 – due to major economic, financial and service delivery problems – and a new team, led by Arbeto Martins, has subsequently been appointed.