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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has secured the commitment of the Department of Water and Sanitation to this week examine sewage contamination of water flowing from the Eye of Kuruman.

The Eye of Kuruman is a significant natural spring delivering approximately 20-30 million litres of water daily, feeding the Kuruman River and two 7 km canals.

The development comes shortly after the DA also tabled an unanimously agreed upon motion in parliament last week, whereby it was resolved that the Ga-Segonyana local municipality must immediately repair the sewer pump stations and also clean and maintain the canals. The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) further also agreed that the Green Scorpions must be brought in to monitor the situation.

The canals flow all the way from the Kuruman Eye, through the town, to far outlying villages and rural areas. A number of regularly broken pump stations cause sewage overflow into the furrow that supplies residents with water. Neither this furrow, nor the two cement canals on either side of it, have been cleaned or maintained for many years, further causing blockages. These then also cause sewage dams to form.

The sewage contamination creates a health risk to residents and poses a serious threat to the underground water sources.

The DA exposed the matter last year already, when we received reports that livestock were dying from the very high E.coli levels in the fresh water canal. We reported it to the Municipal Manager and sent him a video clip of a toilet with a zinc frame, that was put up on the canal line. A pipe dumps the sewerage water directly into the furrow. Despite clear evidence of contamination, the MM failed to act.

This week, in addition to accompanying DWS to various areas of contamination and concern, I have also arranged a meeting with the MM to inform him of the NCOP’s decision.

The DA will continue to pressurise the municipality to take stock of their basic sewer and water services and hold them accountable for their mandated duties, as contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

Issued by Willie Aucamp, MP - Constituency Head of Kalahari