Public representatives from the Democratic Alliance (DA), across all spheres of government, have called on the eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, to join them on 2 December for a “much needed, long-awaited dip” in the Indian Ocean.
According to Ward 35 Councillor Nicole Bollman, the invitation to join the DA at the uMhlanga Main beach follows a media briefing held on the uMhlanga Promenade on Thursday, 24 November, where Mayor Kaunda expressed his satisfaction that because the Ohlange Pump Station in Blackburn Village had been commissioned, beaches would be open on 1 December and ready to receive visitors.
“Oversight visits to various ‘hot-spots’ along the Ohlange River, proved once again, that there was a consistent flow of raw sewage flowing into the river as has been the case since post the April floods, completely by-passing the newly commissioned pump station a mere 250m up river, due to alleged blockages in the system, resulting in zero flow into the pump station,” said Cllr Bollman.
She challenged the Mayor by saying, “put your swimsuit where your mouth is”.
She added: “Although the DA fully supports the tourism industry who have been hard hit by the various ‘on again’ ‘off again’ approaches by the city, our concern is that failure to consider the resolution and repair of the sewer reticulation system in its entirety from source to the waste water treatment plant in Phoenix will result in an ecological and health catastrophe to the unassuming bather coming to our shores for the festive season placing both our them and Professional Lifeguards at risk. That the Mayor is as confident as he is, we welcome him to take the plunge and go for a swim. We are right behind you Mr. Mayor!”
Cllr Bollman together with the DA had also called upon the Head of Water and Sanitation, Ednick Msweli to be transparent in his dealings with the public, and not mislead them
“Whether this misinformation to the public is deliberate or unintentional, an oversight conducted concluded that raw effluent is still pouring from various hot-spot areas along the Ohlange River. New outflows are evident and the Ohlange sewage pump station lies dormant, only to become functional next week, a short three days from the December 1st ‘Grand re-opening’.”
She explained that there are currently millions of litres of raw, polluted water contained in the uMhlanga Lagoon just north of one of the suburb’s main tourist beaches and that concerns remain as to the ecological and health related catastrophe awaiting unassuming bathers whether in uMhlanga or further up the coast at uMdloti when this water finally breaks through.
“The DA cannot confirm nor accept the reopening of beaches until such time as the various outflows are contained. We need to ensure that the Ohlange sewage pump station is fully operational and that no further issues arise from potential threats along the line once the system has been ‘turned on’.”
The DA had also called for the City to be placed under administration due to the continued sewage crisis, invoking Section 139 of the Constitution. Recently, ActionSA also instituted legal proceedings against the City by way of application with a court date confirmed for late February next year.
