A special Ministerial-level task team has been assembled by the South African government to develop a coordinated strategy to deal "urgently" with the issue of acid-water drainage, which some believe poses a serious threat to South Africa's water resources, the country's environment, human health and to local economies.

The team would also comprise experts from the water sector, institutions of higher learning, the mining sector and independent scientists.

The mining-heavy provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State were perceived as being at particular risk from the outflow of acidic water from metal or coal mines, some of which have scaled back pumping for financial reasons, while others have simple been abandoned.

It has been reported that the absence of the pumping on Gauteng's Central Basin, where mining has occurred for over a century, has resulted in rising levels of acid mine drainage. Some reports suggest that the water is rising at a daily rate of 600 mm to 900 mm and that the current level of the water is at around 600 m below surface.

South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance has called for a formal government response to mitigate a potential disaster. It has also warned that the window of opportunity to intervene will soon close, owing to the fact that the engineering solutions required would take time to plan, finance and implement.

Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica was mandated at this week's Cabinet meeting to urgently convene the task team, which would also comprise Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka, Minister in the Presidency Responsible for the National Planning Commission Trevor Manuel, and provincial members of executive councils from the affected provinces.

The team, Sonjica reported, would be expected to provide an "informed, independent assessment of the situation, and propose sustainable, workable and affordable solutions to deal with this issue comprehensively".

The mining sector has already submitted a revised proposal following engagements with government.

The team would report back to Cabinet. However, no timeframes have been provided, with Sonjica saying only that it was being treated as an "urgent" matter.

Various solutions have already been proposed, ranging from capital-intensive water treatment facilities, through to lower-cost passive treatment solutions, including the flooding of disused coalmines.

In a statement, Sonjica emphasised that affordability would be key to finding a "permanent solution".

"Given the challenges facing government at this time, it is in the interest of all, to favour cheap, effective and sustainable methods of dealing with this issue," she said.

While emphasising the seriousness of the threat, the Minister also cautioned against "exaggeration" and "alarmist statements", which she argued were being fuelled by private "financial interests".

She gave an assurance that Johannesburg residents would "not wake up one morning to a flood of acid water in the CBD as it has been reported previously".