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The FF Plus today, in a strongly worded media release demanded that the government fulfils its constitutional duty and intervene in a drastic manner in the wide-ranging water crisis in South Africa.

The Freedom Front Plus’ chief spokesperson on Water and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Jaco Mulder, said that the recent high rainfall figures proves that the government’s over-arching water control system is totally inadequate.

While the Department of Water Affairs’ handling of the recent floods is suspicious due to poor monitoring and management of water flow from dams, the acid mine water crisis in Gauteng has been made worse by the high rainfall in recent times. The FF Plus has for quite some time been warning about this.

Reports about rising water levels in Gauteng at especially the Groot Vlei mine on the East Rand and recent fish deaths at the Cradle of Humankind indicate that an emergency situation already exists.

There is poor coordination between the different spheres of government as well as between the different departments respectively. The government to date reacted very slowly to the warnings and requests of the FF Plus and other environmental pressure groups.

The FF Plus demands that the government calls a national coordinating body into life to manage the South African water situation as a national priority.

The government will have to account for the loss of life and damage to the environment.