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The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by reports that livestock are dying from the very high E.coli levels in the fresh water irrigation canal that flows all the way from the Kuruman Eye, through the town, to far outlying villages and rural areas.

The Eye of Kuruman is a natural spring delivering approximately 20-30 million litres of water daily, supplying Kuruman’s domestic water and feeding the Kuruman River and the two 7 km irrigation canals.

Dumping of raw sewerage into one of the irrigation canals, close to the source, is however, polluting the water received down-stream of one of the canals. This also poses a future bigger risk of seepage into the massive underground water sources that feeds the eye.

The putrid smell emanating from the canal, is evidence of the extent of the contamination and it is becoming unbearable for guest houses and businesses, who are losing clients as a direct result.

The DA reported the matter to the Ga-Segonyana Municipal Manager some time ago already. I especially raised my concern about sewage water being dumped in the canal behind the old Autozone and even the deaths of cattle on agricultural erven due to the apparent water pollution.

More recently, the DA has sent the MM a video clip of a toilet with a zinc frame, that has actually been put up on the canal line. A pipe, that dumps the sewerage water directly into the furrow, was even set up.

Despite this clear evidence of contamination, the municipality is still failing to react.

The DA fears for the wellbeing of residents and livestock, who depend on the canal water, and we are extremely worried about the possibility of an E.coli outbreak. The ANC-run municipality, however, doesn’t care at all.

The DA will further report the matter to the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation, to the MEC of COGHSTA and to the South African Human Rights Commission.

More importantly, however, we are reporting the municipality to all residents of Ga Segonyana, who need to hold it accountable for such a serious failure and kick the ANC out at the polls on 1 November.

Issued by Braam Van Der Westhuizen, Cllr - Gasegonyane Municipality