Sewage pollution in Olifants River – immediate action required by Oudtshoorn Local Municipality

An independent water analysis recently brought to light that water being discharged by the Oudtshoorn sewage works in the Olifants River, contains a serious health risk for residents of this Southern Cape town.  

The E.coli levels in the water that was tested are 24 times higher than the maximum permitted levels. However, the biggest concern is the shocking high levels of ammoniac occurring in the water. It is four times higher than the permitted levels. The report containing these damning results of the water tests is in the possession of the DA Regional Chairperson, Jaco Londt. 

When ammoniac of such excessive levels is dumped into water, oxygen is abstracted from the water, which can not only give rise to severe fish mortalities, but also lead to further pollution. Additional causes include the death of livestock and destruction of cultivated crops.

At the moment, farmers downstream have already abandoned all activities related to cleaning irrigation canals with the hand. It must now be done using machines, which will cost them millions of rand.

Kam Chetty, Administrator of the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, has already been informed about the abovementioned water tests on a previous occasion. During an extremely positive meeting in August 2015 between AfriForum and the Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, the civil rights organisation was given the assurance by the Minister that he would be implementing measures in order to help the Council of the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality to function in a more effective manner. He mentioned, amongst others, that he would like to replace the corrupt officials with a new Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer. He also had plans to appropriate funds for the repair of the sewage works. 

Bredell suited his actions to his words and accompanied the new officials to the sewage works a week later. Funds for the repair of the sewage works were also transferred to the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality. However, it later came to AfriForum’s attention that the newly appointed officials no longer had the willingness to stay on in their posts and that they resigned. The two corrupt officials were subsequently reinstated and are still in charge of the Municipality. It also came to light that the funds which were meant for the repair of the sewage works were embezzled in the meantime.

“It is clear that the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality has no earnestness to find a solution to this challenge, and by doing so placing the lives of residents in danger,” said Thomas van Dalen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for the Western Cape.

It seems as though the ANC inclined Administrator is however simply continuing to build on the pathetic service delivery record of the local Municipality. In September 2015, AfriForum directed a letter to the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, in which the organisation requested her to award full power in terms of article 139(b) of the Municipalities Act to the Administrator, in order to allow him to properly perform his duties. The Premier complied with the request after which full power was awarded to Chetty. However, Chetty is failing in his duties to clamp down on the corrupt officials and gangsterism, intimidation and theft still reign supreme in the Council of Oudtshoorn’s Municipality.    

“AfriForum will continue implementing measures to ensure that the Municipality properly performs its work and that the residents of Oudtshoorn receive the services which they are entitled to. We will also not rest until the criminal elements have been removed from the Council,” concluded Van Dalen.              

Issued by Thomas van Dalen, Provincial Coordinator: Western Cape, AfriForum, 5 November 2015