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AfriForum sent letters of demand to three Metropolitan Municipalities today, demanding them to stop the pollution of the Kalkspruit and Hennops River before 22 June 2015.

“The river is severely polluted and the aquatic ecosystem is basically non-existent. Through various complaints from the public about this nuisance and the possible health threats it can incur, AfriForum received the mandate to take action against the responsible authorities,” said Julius Kleynhans, AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs.

The civil rights organisation said that the main sources of pollution occur in the areas of Ivory Park, Tembisa, Olifantsfontein and Erasmia via overflowing manholes, lack of sanitation facilities and maintenance and waste water treatment works not complying with legal limits.

AfriForum also demanded the Department of Water and Sanitation to take action against the culprits. “The continuous pollution of the watercourse is criminal. The government is the custodian and regulator of water resources and it must protect our constitutional rights and ensure the health and safety of all the people and our environment,” added Kleynhans.

AfriForum gathered water samples from the Hennops River and according to the results, more than 1 000 000 units of E. coli per 100 ml are present in the water. However, the norm in an aquatic environment should be less than 200 units per 100 ml to ensure a healthy ecosystem. “The water quality of the Hennops River is currently on the same level as raw sewage,” said Tarien Cooks, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for Gauteng North.

“Various directive letters have been sent by the Department of Water Affairs, but they were simply ignored by some of the Metros. The pollution of a water resource threatens the resource, ecosystem and the health of anyone who comes in contact with the water,” concluded Cooks.

To add your name to the complaint, SMS “Hennops” to 45354 (R1).

Issued by AfriForum