Residents living near the Delporton Sewerage Dump Truck site are at risk of serious health issues as there are no proper controls in place. This implies that the plant’s processing of the dumped waste is inadequate.
During a recent oversight inspection at the Delporton Sewerage Dump Truck site, the Democratic Alliance (DA) discovered that there is a lack of monitoring and uncontrolled dumping taking place. There is no security in place and no register to ensure that proper measures are followed.
Furthermore, random samples of the effluent that is being dumped must be taken, kept cool, and tested. However, this is not taking place at all.
The waste, which is dumped into the hole, then flows down the mountainside and into the valley opposite Munsieville. Due to the uncontrolled dumping, the effluent flows into the Blougat Nature Reserve.
See photos here, here, here and here.
Animals forage in this area and subsequently eat plants and drink contaminated water. Furthermore, there are also zama zamas living in the area.
The situation is dire at this site the fish in the river at the nature reserve are dead because of the untreated water; sinkholes have formed. Businesses in the area, some of which are dependent directly on the river for their operations, can no longer operate, and residents have lost out on using these facilities for leisure opportunities.
The Democratic Alliance will be asking questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to the MEC for Environmental Affairs, Shyla Peters, to determine exactly what will be done about the situation, how much money has been allocated for the repair of the Percy Stewart waste treatment plant, and by when it will be operational again.
The DA’s Shadow MEC for Environmental Affairs, Jade Miller, will engage directly with the MEC for Environmental Affairs on this issue. The DA’s Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Bronwynn Engelbrecht, will engage with the MEC to determine what impact this situation has on food security in the province.
It is unacceptable that residents are forced to live in an environment that is not kept clean, putting them at risk of getting sick because of the untreated water in the area.
A DA government will immediately conduct an audit of all waterways in the province and treatment plants to determine exactly what type of maintenance is needed to keep the environment pollution-free.