Pollution poisons waterways

HAZARD: VOLUMES OF FAECES, TOXINS RUN INTO GAUTENG RIVERS AS AUTHORITIES PASS THE BUCK

- Hein Kaiser

If the state of the waterways at Gillooly's Farm in Ekurhuleni is a foreshadow of South Africa's future water security problems, the country is in for a rough ride. Floating human excrement and nauseating filth pollute the water in the park that feeds into major Gauteng water arteries, including the Jukskei River and downstream the Crocodile River and Hartbeespoort Dam. The authorities are not bothered by it.

A resident, Amanda Pote, said the situation had become worse since The Citizen first reported on the growing health and environmental risk a year ago. When inspecting the area, the writer stopped counting at 200 pieces of faeces in the water. At times, areas of the dam resembled a fizzy drink as methane gas bubbled to the surface.

"The stinky stench in the air is indicative that it's from the sediment and layers of pollution that have formed on the dam's bed over the years, after multiple environmental disasters that have gone unaddressed," Pote said.