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Sewage threatens future of World Heritage Site

Municipalities’ reckless attitude towards dysfunctional sewage treatment plants in Gauteng not only creates a health risk, but also destroys ecosystems in rivers.

The unbridled sewage pollution is also seriously jeopardising the future of the Cradle of Humankind, which is a World Heritage Site.

This past week, the FF Plus was part of a delegation led by Ms Mariette Liefferink, director of the Federation for Sustainable Environment, which visited, among other places, sewage treatment plants as well as polluted rivers and tributaries in Gauteng.

Representatives of the American Embassy, UNISA and the Department of Waterworks were also part of the group.

The team concurred that one of Gauteng’s biggest challenges is providing effective and accountable service delivery. Its failure to do so results in the pollution of water sources.

Contributing factors include a lack of expertise, poor financial management and no political will to govern municipalities successfully.

A great cause of concern is the dysfunctional Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works of the Mogale City Local Municipality, which is jeopardising the Cradle of Humankind.

Sewage is diverted from this plant to the Tweelopie tributary which flows through the Cradle and into the Hartbeespoort Dam.

UNESCO declared the Cradle of Humankind a World Heritage Site in 1999. But this status is hanging in the balance because of the ongoing sewage pollution.

There are numerous restaurants and guest houses in the vicinity of the Cradle, but tourists steer clear of these establishments due to the unbearable stench permanently hanging in the air.

This, in turn, has a detrimental impact on the Magaliesburg region’s economy.

Several directives for non-compliance with the Water Act have been issued to Mogale City, but there has been no progress in resolving the sewage pollution problem.

It is disturbing that the ANC-controlled Mogale City seems to have no regard for a site where hominid remains as old as 2 to 3,3 million years are found.

The only solution is to oust the ANC from power in Gauteng and to replace it with a coalition government that is serious about conserving the environment and historical sites for future generations.

The FF Plus will be part of such a coalition.

Together, we can restore and rebuild.

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