CHOLERA IN BRUMA LAKE CAUSED BY INNER CITY SEWERAGE BREAKDOWN

I am hugely disturbed by the finding by environment consultant Paul Fairall that cholera has been found in the Jukskei river in Dewetshof in east Johannesburg.

This means that Bruma Lake is also infected with cholera as the river flows directly into it.

The root cause is the sewerage breakdown in inner city Johannesburg that is aggravated by the huge influx in population, including Zimbabwean refugees.

Existing sewerage pipes are breaking down, and repairs are slow. For instance, there is a massive sewerage leak by Nugget hill and the Ponte building.  Various other leaks contribute to effluent in the storm water drains, which finds its way into the Jukskei river.

There is a shortage of about 10 000 toilets in inner city Johannesburg to cope with the population, including overcrowded office buildings converted to residential use.

Ecoli levels in the Jukskei are extremely high, but the presence of cholera is probably from the latest influx of Zimbabweans.

There is a looming health crisis unless the authorities act quickly to improve sanitation in central Johannesburg which has been shamefully neglected.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng provincial health spokesperson, March 24 2009

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