Central SA
Phumelela aware of sewage flowing into wetland─── DANE BEISHEIM 12:09 Tue, 29 Aug 2023
In addition, refuse, including medical waste, animal carcasses, and household rubbish from an illegal dumping site is also releasing wastewater into the Klip River, which feeds into the wetland.
The Phumelela Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district of the Free State has contingency plans in place to address the sewage spills at a Ramsar-designated wetland site.
The Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve was designated in 1997 by the International Ramsar Convention – to which South Africa became a signatory in 1975 – because it is the largest inland wetland on the Highveld of South Africa.
There are contingency plans in place to address the sewage spills at a Ramsar-designated wetland site. Photo: Supplied
In addition, refuse, including medical waste, animal carcasses, and household rubbish from an illegal dumping site is also releasing wastewater into the Klip River, which feeds into the wetland. A large school releases all its raw sewage directly into this river.
Phumelela Director of Technical Services Leslie Mokoena told OFM News they are aware of municipal sewage from Memel polluting the site. He adds they have begun compiling a business plan to address the issue.
The DA has indicated it will file questions to both the Free State MEC of Environmental Affairs and Minister Barbara Creecy, about why approved plans for a new dumping site have not been implemented for five years.
