SAHRC: South Africa's waste water treatment ‘a national disaster’

The South African Human Rights Commission has made damning findings against the country’s waste water treatment works.  

The commission has recommended that South Africa’s water resources be declared a national disaster.

“The waste water treatment works in South Africa and its consequent pollution of South Africa’s water resources are declared a national disaster in accordance with the Disaster Management Act. As part of declaring the solution as a national disaster the commission commends the establishment of a national water care unit,” the commisson’s  Jonas Sibanyoni said on Tuesday.

The commission was in Hammanskraal for the launch of a report into the sewage pollution of the City of Tshwane rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam.

The report found the waste water works in the city are malfunctioning.

“It is clear that from the numerous complaints, site visits, reports from the Magalies Water Board and the information provided by the DWS, that the WWTS in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality are malfunctioning and as a result the freshwater sources.

“The Apies, Tolwane, Pienaar and Hennops rivers and the Roodeplaat and Leeukraal dams are being polluted with untreated and partially treated sewage sludge.”

It’s been over ten years since Tshwane’ water woes started, especially for Hammanskraal residents.

Residents in the area have not been able to drink water from their taps due to the untreated sewage leak from the Rooiwal Treatment Plant.

But the city maintains it has made provision for water tanks for residents.

Tshwane MMC for Utility Services and Regional Operations and Coordination Phillip Nel said Tshwane is trying to resolve the issue.

He believes at least R6.2 billion is needed over the next five years to fix the city’s water woes.

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