Although the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works in Krugersdorp has partially resumed operations after years of decay, it still does not comply with legal environmental standards.
During an oversight visit to the facility on Friday, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) discovered that untreated sewage is still spilling into rivers and streams, rendering the water unsuitable for human consumption and crop irrigation.
Independent laboratory tests commissioned by residents confirm dangerously high levels of E. coli in the water.
An amount of R64 million was earmarked for upgrading Percy Stewart, R10 million of which has already been spent on security measures and erecting a new fence.
This fence remains incomplete, though, because the Mogale City Local Municipality defaulted on the payment.
The ongoing pollution has a devastating impact on the tourism industry and communities in and around the Cradle of Humankind.
Businesses along the Blaauwbank and Rietspruit tributaries, primarily restaurants and guest houses, as well as factories and farms that irrigate from the river, have been forced to halt operations because they cannot use the water.
One such business is a large Koi farm that has also ceased operations.
The Freedom Front Plus demands immediate compliance with all legal and technical requirements, comprehensive rehabilitation of polluted rivers and dams, and proper communication and adherence to timelines as well as accountability.
The party will continue to pressure the Municipality to fully restore the wastewater treatment works, ensuring the water is safe in accordance with environmental legislation.
Freedom Front Plus Taxation: The party calls for fair taxation policies that do not burden the middle class.
Gentle Avenger
Van is getting married, but he and his fiancee have never done the deed – in fact he\’s never been with any woman before. He\’s getting more and more nervous as the big day approaches, so he confides in his friend. His friend says \’No worries man. I\’ll come by the honeymoon suite before you guys get there, and I\’ll hide behind the curtain, and I\’ll whisper instructions to you.\’
\’You\’d do that for me?\’
\’Sure thing man!\’
So the wedding day arrives, it was a lovely service (so I was told, I wasn\’t there myself) and Van\’s friend sneaks into the honeymoon suite as promised and hides behind the curtain.
Van and his new wife arrive in the room, get settled on the bed, and things are getting steamy.
But Van is still super nervous and his tummy is bubbling, so he murmers to his wife, \’Listen babe, I\’m just gonna go to the bathroom quick. I think it\’s that wors roll from earlier.\’
\’Sure thing babe.\’
So Van goes into the bathroom, and he\’s taking quite a long time. And his wife is starting to feel the nerves herself. And it\’s getting worse. She can\’t hold it in. But she doesn\’t want to go after he\’s gone and totally ruin the mood. So she looks around and finally finds a shoebox. Quickly, she does her business in the shoebox, and she shoves it under the bed just as Van comes back from the loo.
Van gets back on the bed and they go at it again. But after a minute or so Van smells something not so lekker.
\’What\’s that smell?\’
\’Nothing babe,\’ he wife tries to assure him.
\’No man there\’s definitely something not so lekker in this room!\’VSo Van starts looking around the room, in the corners, in the cupboard, and finally he looks under the bed, and sees the shoebox.
He pull it out, and opens it up, and in horror he shouts \’Sies! Daar\’s kak in hierdie doos!\’
And from behind the curtain his friend yells, \’NEE MAN, DRAAI HAAR OM!\”
Chew Chew
When Oscar Pistorius said he wanted to be just like able bodied athletes, who knew he meant OJ Simpson?