[Afr] Waterbesoedeling is een van die grootse bedreigings wat Suid-Afrikaners in die gesig staar. Ons bly in ‘n waterarm land met ‘n groeiende bevolking.
Toe die adjunk-minister van Water en Sanitasie, Mnr. Sello Seithlolo homself voorstel, het hy gese: “Noem my sommer ‘Mister Polution’.” Mafube is ‘n paar keer deur hom genoem tydens die stigting van die Vaalrivier Anti-besoedelingsforum (VAPF) wat onlangs by van der Bijl Park plasgevind het. Watergehaltemonitering deur Randwater en Departement van Water en Sanitasie (DWS) toon kommerwekkende neigings.
Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MPM) verskyn op die lys van entiteite teen wie strafregtelike klagtes deur DWS aanhangig gemaak is. Die adjunkminister het spesifiek na burgemeester Motsoeneng van MPM verwys en gesê dat hy hom sal kom kuier vir "'n vriendelike geselsie". Daar word voorsien dat strafregtelike klagte teen burgemeesters en munisipale bestuurders wie voortdurend versuim om aan wetgewing te voldoen, in hul persoonlike hoedanigheid ingestel sal word. Dit blyk dat DWS nou die minagtinghofsaak (beskikbaar op www.mafubebf.org) ondersteun wat MBF teen MPM aanhangig gemaak het wat vandag 11 Oktober 2024 in die hooggeregshof Bloemfontein aangehoor sal word.
WATERGEHALTE MONITORING
Watertoetse word vier-weekliks op ongeveer 250 plekke in die Bo-Vaal gebied gedoen met ekologiese, fisiese, biologiese en chemiese ontledings. Hierdie program ontleed soute, voedingstowwe, gifstowwe, patogene en bakterieë.
Ekologiese aspekte en onder andere makro-invertebrata word kwartaalliks in die riviersisteem gemonitor. Ad hoc-steekproewe word ook gedoen in reaksie op besoedelingsvoorvalle in die mynbou-, nywerheids-, landbou- en plaaslike regeringsektore. Resultate word elke drie maande in Forumvergaderings bespreek waar aanbevelings en verdere aksies bespreek word. Mafube Besigheidsforum (MBF) lei tans die Vaaldam Reservoir Opvangsforum en neem ook deel aan die Wilge Forum, wat die Liebenbergsvlei rivier insluit – die koppeling met die Lesotho Hooglandwaterskema.
TOENEMENDE BESOEDELING VAN WATERBRONNE
Mynaktwiteite en stedelike nywerheidsentrums beinvloed waterkwaliteit van die Bo-Vaal erg negatief. Atmosferiese besoedeling en stilstaande water by ontwaterde, toegemaakte myne vererger die situasie. Groot impakbronne sluit in:
• Landboudreinering (besproeiingsterugvloei, kunsmis, plaagdoders en afloop van voerkrale);
• Stedelike afloop - en uitvloeisel (bakteriologiese kontaminasie, soute en voedingstowwe);
• Nywerhede (chemiese stowwe);
• Mynbou (sure, soute, metale en radioaktiwiteit); en
• Gebiede met onvoldoende sanitasiedienste (mikrobiese kontaminasie).
WYSIGINGS AAN DIE NASIONALE WATERWET
Adjunkminister Seithlolo belowe aksie. ‘n Aantal wysigings aan die Nasionale Waterwet word verwag om die volgende in te sluit:
(a) 'n Nasionale register van besoedelaars; (b) Kriminalisering van waterbron-besoedeling; (c) Skeiding van die funksies van Waterdiensowerhede (WSA's) en Waterdiensverskaffer (WSP); (d) “Omheining” van waterinkomste en (e) Verpligte deelname deur WSA's en WSP's aan Opvanggebiedforums.
MBF nooi inwoners, sake-eienaars en belastingbetalers uit om ons kantore by Kerkstraat 18A, Frankfort op Maandae tot Donderdae van 08h30 tot 16h00 en Vrydae 08h30 tot 12h00 te besoek. Bel of stuur 'n WhatsApp-boodskap aan Marina by 079 145 4295. Besoek ons webwerf www.mafubebf.org en volg ons op Facebook.
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[Eng] Pollution of water sources is recognised as one of the greatest threats facing us as South Africans. Our country is regarded as water-stressed with a shrinking ability to provide water to our growing population.
During the recent launch of the Vaal River Anti-pollution Forum (VAPF) by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seithlolo, the situation in the Upper-Vaal Catchment area of which the Mafube region forms a part, was highlighted. The regular water quality monitoring performed by Rand water and Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) indicate worrying trends.
WATER QUALITY MONITORING
The monitoring programs involve ecological, physical, biological, and chemical analyses of water resources. A surface monitoring program- encompassing physical, biological, and chemical parameters, is conducted at approximately 250 locations (including 23 Resource Quality Objective (RQO points) on a four-weekly basis. This program analyses salts, nutrients, toxins, pathogens, and bacteria.
The River Ecosystem Monitoring Program (REMP)- focusing on ecological aspects, monitors macroinvertebrates in six rivers on a quarterly basis. Additionally, ad hoc sampling is carried out in response to pollution incidents in the mining, industrial, agricultural, and local government sectors, as needed. The results of the sampling tests done are discussed at quarterly Forum meetings where recommendations and further courses of action are made. Mafube Business Forum (MBF) currently lead the Vaal Dam Reservoir Catchment Forum and also participate in the Wilge Forum which includes the Liebenbergsvlei river which serves as the conduit for water from the Lesotho Highlands Scheme.
INCREASED POLLUTION OF WATER SOURCES
Water quality is a serious problem in the Upper Vaal due to intensive mining activity, as well as the urban and industrial centres that return effluent. Atmospheric pollution is also prevalent in the Vaal Dam catchment and contributes to the pollution of surface water resources. Dewatering of mines and the discontinuation thereof can impact surface flow and result in particular water quality problems. Major impacting sources include:
– Agricultural drainage and wash-off (irrigation return-flows, fertilizers, pesticides and runoff from feedlots);
– Urban wash-off and effluent return-flows (bacteriological contamination, salts and nutrients);
– Industries (chemical substances);
– Mining (acids, salts, metals and radioactivity); and
– Areas with insufficient sanitation services (microbial contamination).
AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL WATER ACT
Deputy Minister Seithlolo means action. He has no qualms about being known as The “Pollution Man” and is currently seeing to a number of amendments to the National Water Act, to include the following:
1. A National register of polluters
2. Criminalising pollution of water sources
3. Separating the functions of Water Services Authorities (WSAs) and Water Services provider (WSP)
4. “Ring-fencing” of water revenue
5. Compulsory participation by WSAs and WSPs in Catchment Forums.
During the launch of the VAPF, Mafube Local Municipality (MLM) was mentioned several times and appeared on the list of entities against whom criminal charges were brought by DWS. The Deputy Minister specifically referred to Mayor Motsoeneng of MLM and said that he will come to see him for “a friendly chat”. It is foreseen that criminal charges are to be directed at mayors and municipal managers who continually fail to comply with legislation. It appears that DWS now support the contempt of court case that MBF brought against Mafube which will be heard in the High Court Bloemfontein today 11 October.
Further information relating to water pollution may be downloaded from the MBF website at www.mafubebf.org
Visit our offices at 18A Church Street, Frankfort on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00. Call or send a WhatsApp message to Marina on 079 145 4295. Visit our website www.mafubebf.org and follow us on Facebook.
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