Provincial Department Head, Tseliso Ntili, says his department is aware there are Free State towns downstream – specifically Parys – that are adversely affected by the much-publicised pollution of the Vaal River. Ntili says his Gauteng colleagues along with the South African Defence Force (SANDF) are making strides in ending the crisis at the Vaal River. The Vice Chairperson of Save the Vaal, Maureen Stewart, told OFM News in 2018 that drinking water at Emfuleni Local Municipality – the main contributor to the pollution – is safe to drink, because it comes from the Vaal Dam and not the river. It is treated by Rand Water, but she cannot say the same for the drinking water in Parys.

Stewart says the water in Parys, under Ngwathe Local Municipality, is not entirely safe for consumption, because it comes from the Vaal River. She explains that the municipality then has to treat the water extensively in order for it to be safe for consumption. She cautions residents in the town to steer clear of drinking the water. Ntili echoes Stewart’s assertions.

He stresses that “the municipality needs to do more in terms of proper processing” of the water. He says the treatment of highly polluted water is an expensive process.

Residents in Parys have long been complaining about domestic water in the town. The organisation Afriforum released a statement in 2018 alleging that the town’s drinking water does not adhere to the legally-required standard, even though it does not contain E.coli. They said “laboratory tests do show that the water exceeds other limitations set for blue drop status by the South African National Standards (SANS)”.

Ntili did not dispute the allegations but maintains that something is being done to combat pollution of the river. The Free State branch of the Water and Sanitation Department will continue to keep a close eye on the situation.

OFM News