Sisulu reassures Vaal residents govt will address water pollution crisis Sisulu was part of a government delegation that visited the troubled Emfuleni Municipality earlier on Tuesday. Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Picture: @DWS RSA/Twitter
6 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG - Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has assured residents and business owners in the Vaal that government is committed to restoring dilapidated infrastructure that has contributed to years of pollution in the district.
Sisulu was part of a government delegation that visited the troubled Emfuleni Municipality earlier on Tuesday.
The municipality has been unable to repair and replace sewage systems and has failed to comply with the Water Service Act amongst a list of violations.
Vaal sewage crisis: SAHRC calls on government to intervene
According to the SAHRC, the Vaal is now polluted beyond acceptable
standards.
“The Commission had been alerted to online and print media reports published during
July and August 2018, reporting that raw sewage [in Vanderbijl Park, Vereeniging and other others within the municipality] had for weeks and months been leaking into and polluting the Vaal River and Rietspruit”.
The investigation revealed that the 3-year-long sewage crisis was as a result of the Emfuleni Local Municipality flouted its constitutional duties for years. Here’s a summary of the report.
Vaal sewage crisis
The reports highlights that main sewers in Vanderbijlpark were placed, and “that raw sewerage was flowing into people’s yards and properties”. The SAHRC Commissions conducted an inspection-in-loco and found the following:
SAHRC recommends that Cabinet intervenes in Vaal sewage crisis ewn.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ewn.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.