SA Drowning in sewege
Posted by edenfmactive on Monday, May 23, 2011
Bloemfontein - The Free State health department
should investigate reports of up to 1 000 incidents
of diarrhoea in the Moqhaka Local Municipality
(Kroonstad), the Democratic Alliance said on
Tuesday.
Reacting to the same reports, Christian Democratic Party leader Theunis Botha said South Africa
was apparently drowning in sewage.
"This news comes shortly after it was reported that the e-coli count in the Vaal River at Parys
recently measured in the millions."
Botha said the stream of negative reports on water pollution continued unabated in the country.
It would have been expected that by now the government would have launched an effective plan to
ensure safe drinking and irrigation water, he said.
No comment from officials
Provincial DA health spokesperson Basil Alexander said the party had raised its concerns with Free
State Health MEC Sisi Mabe.
"The DA requested the MEC to urgently investigate the reports of water in Moqhaka being treated
with chlorine merely 14 days ago."
Alexander said reports suggested that the municipality was not able to purchase chlorine due to
certain financial restraints in the municipal budget.
"More disconcerting is the fact that residents in Steynsrus, who have lately experienced frequent
water shortages, have indicated that the water they receive from water tanks (does) not appear to
be suitable for consumption," he said in a statement.
The Free State health department was not able to comment immediately on Tuesday and was
investigating the reports.
The Moqhaka Local Municipality was also not immediately available for comment.
'Sewage flowing in the streets'
The DA said raw sewage was flowing in the streets of Koppies in the Ngwathe Municipality.
Alexander said the party had reminded the MEC that these were not isolated incidents.
"Several DA councillors have already laid charges against municipalities due to the fact that sewage
Related Links
Concerns about SA's water quality
Govt, labour to address water crisis
Experts to tackle water crisis was considered a serious threat to the health of Free State residents."
Alexander said if Mabe was committed to "a healthy and self-reliant Free State community" the
matters would be investigated without delay.
The party had brought the matter to the attention of the DA shadow minister for health, Mike Waters,
who would take the matter up with the national minister of health.
should investigate reports of up to 1 000 incidents
of diarrhoea in the Moqhaka Local Municipality
(Kroonstad), the Democratic Alliance said on
Tuesday.
Reacting to the same reports, Christian Democratic Party leader Theunis Botha said South Africa
was apparently drowning in sewage.
"This news comes shortly after it was reported that the e-coli count in the Vaal River at Parys
recently measured in the millions."
Botha said the stream of negative reports on water pollution continued unabated in the country.
It would have been expected that by now the government would have launched an effective plan to
ensure safe drinking and irrigation water, he said.
No comment from officials
Provincial DA health spokesperson Basil Alexander said the party had raised its concerns with Free
State Health MEC Sisi Mabe.
"The DA requested the MEC to urgently investigate the reports of water in Moqhaka being treated
with chlorine merely 14 days ago."
Alexander said reports suggested that the municipality was not able to purchase chlorine due to
certain financial restraints in the municipal budget.
"More disconcerting is the fact that residents in Steynsrus, who have lately experienced frequent
water shortages, have indicated that the water they receive from water tanks (does) not appear to
be suitable for consumption," he said in a statement.
The Free State health department was not able to comment immediately on Tuesday and was
investigating the reports.
The Moqhaka Local Municipality was also not immediately available for comment.
'Sewage flowing in the streets'
The DA said raw sewage was flowing in the streets of Koppies in the Ngwathe Municipality.
Alexander said the party had reminded the MEC that these were not isolated incidents.
"Several DA councillors have already laid charges against municipalities due to the fact that sewage
Related Links
Concerns about SA's water quality
Govt, labour to address water crisis
Experts to tackle water crisis was considered a serious threat to the health of Free State residents."
Alexander said if Mabe was committed to "a healthy and self-reliant Free State community" the
matters would be investigated without delay.
The party had brought the matter to the attention of the DA shadow minister for health, Mike Waters,
who would take the matter up with the national minister of health.