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Untreated sewage water is entering the Vanderkloof Dam directly from the Renosterberg municipal pump stations and polluting the Orange River which is recording very high e.coli levels below the dam.

This was confirmed during an oversight inspection today by myself; Leon Basson MP, Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation; Nicholas Myburgh MP, Deputy Shadow Minister of Water; Willem Faber MP, Constituency Head of Central South; Isak Fritz MPL, Provincial Chairperson; Michael Kaars, COGHSTA spokesperson; and Matt Posthumus, councillor in Renosterberg municipality.

The failure of the municipality to attend to broken sewerage pumps is causing serious contamination of the Vanderkloof Dam and in turn the Orange River system, which plays an important role in the South African economy, particularly by way of providing water for irrigation.

Based on evidence that we have in our possession, relating to the high e.coli levels in the Orange River which stem from Renosterberg’s sewerage failures, we can also see the impact of the sewage contamination in Orania and other places further along the Orange River too.

For some time already, only one of six pumps at the three sewage pump stations in Renosterberg has been in working order. Since an Eskom court order granted late last year to freeze Renosterberg municipality’s bank account due to outstanding debt of over R100 million owed to the power utility, Renosterberg cannot access funds, it cannot pay salaries and it cannot institute repairs. Services have therefore come to a standstill.

Already, as we previously reported, one baby living in the area was officially diagnosed with Salmonella Enteritis in April which the doctor suspects was contracted through contaminated water in the area. Aside from serious health concerns related to the contaminated water, it also poses a direct threat to farming.

The poisoning of our scarce water resources is not only a massive failure on the part of local government but is also criminal. While we have requested interventions from the Premier and the MEC of COGHSTA, and we have reported the matter to the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Green Scorpions, there still seems to be no urgency to address this situation.

It is for this reason that myself and Willem Faber, today, on behalf of the DA, laid criminal charges against the Renosterberg Municipal Manager, Mr Abe Motolong, and the municipality at the Vanderkloof Police Station. See pictures here and here.

The charges relate to Section 151 (1) of the National Water Act 36 of 1998, following the municipality’s continued intentional and willful contamination and pollution of the Vanderkloof Dam and the Orange River. If those implicated are found guilty, they can face either up to 10 years imprisonment, a substantial fine or both.

Renosterberg must be held accountable and its dysfunctional pumps and pump stations must urgently be prevented from continuing to place the health and economic futures of residents, who are dependent on the Orange River, at risk.

Issued by DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader, Harold McGluwa MPL