Shocking video of hyacinth-infested Hartbeespoort Dam
Hyacinth has long been a problem at the popular Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West province, but recent video footage of the problem has left residents even more shocked.
Video footage taken from an aircraft reportedly overlooking the Hartbeespoort Dam shows what looks like a large field of grass, with only a small patch of visible water.
The green blanket in the video is, in fact, not grass, but rather a massive amount of water hyacinth overgrowing on the surface of the dam.
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At the start of the video, a small patch of water is still visible, but as the camera pans across the dam, almost no open water can be seen.
The video was posted across various social media platforms, with crime activist Yusuf Abramjee and local security company SCP Security also sharing the footage.
@gypsygirl152_1976 Hartbeespoort Dam, huidiglik😔🙏
♬ original sound - ❌gypsygirl152❌🇿🇦'1976'
Unfortunately, the invasive growth is not only unsightly but also poses serious threats to ecosystems in and around the dam.
Beyond its effects on ecosystems, the hyacinth also poses threats to boaters and negatively affects local tourism in the area.
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Earlier this year, the National Research Foundation, Rhodes University, and the Department of Water and Sanitation released weevil insects into the Hartbeespoort Dam to help control the invasive alien water plant.
According to SABC News, the plant blocks sunlight from entering the water, which results in the death of fish in the dam due to a lack of oxygen.
The insects were reportedly brought in from South America.
According to The Citizen, the department has appointed Magalies Water on a three-year contract to develop and implement a programme to further address the invasive plant and algae.
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Images: TikTok/ Screenshot