Note to editors: Find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by DA Member of the North West Provincial Legislature, Jacqueline Theologo.
On Tuesday, during a plenary sitting in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), the Democratic Alliance (DA) expressed its concerns regarding the current state of natural water resources in the Zeerust area.
The inadequacy of the Zeerust wastewater treatment plant causes the effluent of the entire town of Zeerust, which is about 4 megalitres of contaminated water, to run into the Kareespruit. From there it flows into the Klein Marico River and the Klein Marico Poort Dam.
We urged the MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile, to urgently address the matter. He undertook to visit the area to ascertain the extent of the damages and then decide on a plan of action.
The Zeerust wastewater treatment plant was scheduled to be upgraded from 3.5 megalitres to 7 megalitres in response to the ongoing contamination of natural water resources, but the contractors appointed to complete the upgrade is currently under business rescue and therefore not on site.
The situation has already escalated to the point where the irrigation scheme underneath the Klein Marico Dam was declared unfit for animal consumption. Subsequently, the scheme was halted due to the unhealthy conditions of the water.
The expansion of the treatment plant falls under the authority of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM), which is also responsible for the sanitation of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.
The NMMDM vehicle is on-site at least 3 times a week, but no attempt is made to address the situation.
The NMMDM is known for non-payment of service providers, but the DA has requested the MEC to thoroughly investigate the matter to determine who is responsible for this travesty.
The DA will continue to monitor the progress of this investigation to ensure that those guilty of stalling the wastewater treatment plant project is brought to book.