AfriForum’s rehabilitation of Vaal River well on its way

The polluting of the Vaal River – from the river’s source just north of Ermelo to where it joins the Orange River at Douglas – is a national disaster. To help rehabilitate the river, AfriForum branches mobilised the communities from 15 towns and one city to take steps in limiting the effects of the pollution on fauna and flora in and along the river.

AfriForum and various other organisations are now attempting to persuade government to address the problem. Government intervention isn’t immediately possible, however, as local municipalities first must obtain the necessary funding to repair sewage leaks and put an end to the deliberate polluting of the river.

“We cannot wait indefinitely until government solves the problem. That is why community members in Standerton, Ermelo, Villiers, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Meyerton, Sasolburg, Parys, Vredefort, Orkney, Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, Bloemhof, Vaalharts, Kimberley and Barkly West have released active bacteria into the river. AfriForum’s campaign to save the Vaal River has an innovative element to help solve the current environmental disaster by releasing active, good bacteria into the water, which will break down bacteria and re-oxygenate the water. It forms part of AfriForum’s short-term project to help save the Vaal River, while the more sustainable projects and plans are being implemented – with or without government’s cooperation,” says Marcus Pawson, AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs.

“The organisation Save The Vaal Environment (SAVE) correctly remarked that government has erred seriously to argue that fish mortality is a result of seasonal changes. If government does not fulfil its duties in this regard, AfriForum will institute legal proceedings to force inept officials to attend to the disaster,” Pawson says.

According to AfriForum, government releases at least 1 500 megalitres of partially-treated or untreated sewage into the Vaal River.

AfriForum’s medium-term actions include cooperation with other organisations to repair sewage pumps and plants, among other. AfriForum’s long-term objectives include the creation of affordable community infrastructure with the latest technology to enable communities to purify their own water without having to wait for government.

People who want to help rehabilitate the rivers, can register on AfriForum’s website to participate in the next rehabilitation action. Together we can save the Vaal River.

Is your river polluted? SMS the name of your town to 45354 (R1) and give AfriForum the mandate to test the quality of your town’s water.