The Department of Water and Sanitation has over the last week or more, in co- operation with the North West Department of Health, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality been seized with the challenge of spillage in the area of Bloemhof including the Boitumelong township.
The spillage has led to the pollution of the Vaal River as it flows through the area, ultimately to the negative impact on the community with regard to the quality of drinking water supply. A number of health related challenges were experienced with around 117 people taken to hospital and treated. Over time this number reduced and stabilised at around 61 cases. What has been treated was identified as diarrhoea.
The suspected cholera has not yet been identified. The matter of the one fatality in this period, suspected to be from the same diarrhoea, is still to be verified.
Part of the work that has been done includes the collection of water samples for laboratory testing. The sampling was done at the reservoir, the school and the source. The laboratory tests are crucial in order to verify exactly what is affecting the community. The tests are still in incubation and the results thereof will be shared once available.
Part of the challenges relating to the quality of water supply were impacted upon by the previous social unrest, vandalisation of some of the infrastructure, as well as matters related to maintenance and operations at local level. The department has been in contact with both the District and Local Municipalities and will continue to engage and assist both Municipalities in order to bring the matters of up to standard water supplies to the area.
This assistance will continue as well in terms of the Blue and Green Drop certification processes.In the meantime, in order to ensure the community does not continue using contaminated water, a number of steps were taken. The Local Municipality shut off the water supply to the community. This ensured no access to the contaminated supply. The community has been assisted with tankered water in the meantime.
The Municipality sanitised the reservoir and pipeline, including backwashing. Since Friday 30th May, the Municipality allowed water back into the system with the main intention of flushing it in order to get it ready for normal use by Monday 2 June.
Included in these actions, has been an awareness drive with regard to water and personal hygiene to ensure that all users continue in the meantime to use water only after boiling it and taking care of issues like ensuring the washing of hands in order to reduce possibilities of further infection. This awareness will continue even beyond the resumption of normal water supply.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation is concerned about the status of the water quality and the negative impact on the health of the community, thus her decision to visit the area this morning. Minister engaged with the Premier of the North West, Premier Mahumapelo, her colleagues in the province, in both the District and Local Municipalities, the responsible officials of all tiers of government, give leadership on the matter and thus bring the matter to a close. Minister Mokonyane also took time to visit some of the families of those affected by the use of the water and fell sick.
The officials at all tiers of government have been working around the clock to find resolution to the challenge as well but the critical political leadership will ensure any possible blockages in terms of inter-governmental relations are immediately taken care of and the community receives the requisite services.
Whilst the Department of Water and Sanitation will continue to assist the Local and District Municipalities, “ the Sedibeng Water Board has been brought in to ensure there’s requisite expertise in the course of action in this regard”, Minister Mokonyane said.
For more information contact:
Mava Scott
Cell: 082 602 9640
Nomvula Khalo
Cell: 082 713 1538
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
Katlego Mokaila
Cell: 082 610 5311
