Durban – The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has called on Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu to urgently free up funding for the reconstruction and maintenance of pump stations damaged during the April floods.
The DA also called for the allocation of an equitable water services infrastructure grant to repair and maintain the eThekwini system that has been increasingly neglected over the past two decades.
This follows a sewage spill in the Isipingo Lagoon from a pump station nearby which left shoals of fish dead.
DA caucus leader in eThekwini Thabani Mthethwa said that according to employees at the pump station, sewerage had to be released on the beach following a pump that was damaged during the April floods and not functioning.
Mthethwa said that the DA conducted oversight at this beach and also engaged with management at the water and sanitation depot on Jeffels Road. According to the team, private companies affected by the sewerage system have had to reach into their pockets in order to get some of the pumps in these stations fixed. They also raised concerns about vandalism at pump stations.
“In the past three months, 12 stations have been vandalised and repairing a vandalised pump costs in the region of R460 000,” Mthethwa said.
“It is concerning that the municipality has not cordoned off this area and residents are continuing to fish in the toxic environment.”
Mthethwa said that it severely compromises the health of residents in the surrounding areas and those that continue to eat the contaminated fish.
“The DA will write to the municipal manager, Musa Mbhele, to query why no safety protocols are in place and further to obtain information on the unit’s plans to address these frequent sewage spills,” Mthethwa said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the eThekwini Municipality said it had started a clean-up operation at the Isipingo Beach lagoon, following the discovery of dead fish over the weekend.
It said that specialist clean-up crews are on-site to collect and dispose of the fish in a responsible manner.
The public was advised to refrain from fishing in the vicinity, and from collecting or consuming the dead species while the clean-up operation is underway.
The municipality said that people should avoid washing or using seawater or water from the lagoon.
“An investigation to ascertain the root cause of the pollution is underway.
“The city will continue to monitor water quality in rivers and beaches through sampling and field surveys,” the municipality said.
Daily News