The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the severe sewage pollution of the Hennops River, caused by the City of Ekurhuleni. This disaster has escalated to an unprecedented level, threatening the health of communities, ecosystems, and the future of vital water resources.
The cyanobacteria bloom in the Hennops River, extending to the Sesmylspruit and Rietvlei Dam, is a direct result of inadequate sewage management in CoE.
This pollution can create a toxic chain reaction, with microcystin—a potent neurotoxin and carcinogen—spreading downstream to Centurion, the Crocodile River, and the Hartbeespoort Dam.
Minimal contact with these toxins can cause severe liver damage, neurological issues, and, in extreme cases, death. Pets, livestock, and wildlife are equally at risk. Nature reserves along the water’s edge are under threat, with animals and aquatic ecosystems facing irreversible damage.
Once microcystin infiltrates the water supply, it is nearly impossible to remove, even by boiling water.
For over a decade, the DA has warned the City of Ekurhuleni about the implications of ignoring its duty to maintain infrastructure and implement sustainable solutions that would have averted this catastrophe.
To this end, the DA introduced a motion in Council several years ago insisting that Bioremediation – an organic waste solution, be implemented to mitigate the impact of years of neglect. The City subsequently ignored this motion and allowed our waterways to decay.
The DA demands that the CoE urgently address sewage treatment failures and repair all wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). We demand that the recommendations of our motion be implemented.
Independent testing and verified data on water quality, including nitrates and cyanotoxins, to inform effective interventions, such as modernising outdated infrastructure with cost-effective measures and pre-treatment systems for sewage before it enters plants, must take place. There must be a sense of urgency in restoring water quality. It cannot be that poor governance becomes the poison that kills our people.
The CoE must face the consequences of its inaction.
The DA will continue to fight for sustainable solutions to safeguard South Africa’s water resources.