The Kamfers Dam, known as one of three South African breeding sites for the lesser flamingos, drew much controversy and created a buzz on social media these past few days following reports that thousands of flamingo chicks were dying at the dam and urgently needed to be rescued. While the drought in the province is cited by many social media users as the reason for the dying of the chicks, others have pointed fingers at the municipality for their failure to maintain infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, municipal spokesperson, Sello Matsie, has refuted these claims and said the pan receives water from three sources such as the home-based waste water treatment plant, rain and the municipality. Although he admits that they have challenges and that the breakdown of water supply pipes from the Goga Pump station, towards the waste water treatment plant, contributed to less water being deposited in the dam, he rubbishes claims that the municipality is to be blamed.He says one of the major problems was that once they start pumping water, sewage spilled into neighbouring townships, which resulted in lesser supply for the Kamfers Dam. He says they are, however, still working on this.

Amidst a massive rescue operation of thousands of flamingos being shipped across South Africa in a bid to save them from an ecological disaster, many have taken to Twitter and Facebook to raise concerns about the role played by the municipality, the provincial government and businesses in the province and posed questions relating to who is to blame for the ordeal.

Hundreds of them are currently accommodated in Cape Town.

OFM News in 2016 and 2017 reported that the Sol Plaatje said the presence of flamingos at Kamfers Dam was a major eco-tourism booster for the city and committed to recycle water and ensure that the dam is supplied adequately.

Below are links to some stories covered by OFM News on the lesser flamingos:

OFM News article 1

OFM News article 2

OFM News article 3

OFM News article 4

OFM News