environmental

A Democratic Alliance (DA) oversight inspection of the Lake Mzingazi region has allegedly revealed the severe degradation of the lake, associated rivers and wetlands, where hippos and crocodiles are covered in human faeces and toilet paper.

Environmental REPORT: Sewage flows into wetlands, on crocs, hippos

Human faeces and toilet paper was allegedly found covering hippos and crocodiles in this environmentally important region of the country.

environmental

A Democratic Alliance (DA) oversight inspection of the Lake Mzingazi region has allegedly revealed the severe degradation of the lake, associated rivers and wetlands, where hippos and crocodiles are covered in human faeces and toilet paper.

A Democratic Alliance (DA) environmental oversight inspection of the Lake Mzingazi region has revealed the allegedly severe degradation of the lake, associated rivers and wetlands, where hippos and crocodiles are covered in human faeces and toilet paper.

The DA revealed details of the shocking findings following the recent oversight  visit in a statement released on Monday.

“The situation is the result of escalating sewage spills from the city of Richard’s Bay, which has sadly become the norm,” the DA said.

“The DA’s visit has shockingly also revealed that an ancient mangrove forest, containing highly protected tree species, has become a lake of festering sewage as pump stations continue to fail. Meanwhile, the last remaining wildlife in the surrounding rivers and lake continue to suffer as the Umhlathuze municipality seems unable or unwilling to simply upgrade and refurbish its sewage pumping infrastructure,” the DA added. 

The DA desired the sight as a “horrific situation” which it alleged was  an example of local government’s financial mismanagement .

“This is directly leading to massive environmental pollution and a threat to potable water supply,” the DA said.

“The city has been slapped with at least 17 compliance directives by KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) environmental affairs department. The DA will continue to insist on criminal prosecution in this ongoing saga. Basic municipal service delivery is not an optional mandate for municipalities,” the DA said.

Umhlathuze municipality had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Meanwhile, local fisherman on the coast of KZN had earlier expressed concern about the government’s plans to possibly  allow  floating powerships to be station at the ports of Saldanha Bay, Richards Bay, and Ngqura. The fishermen were worried that the ships may have had a negative impact on the already scarce fish stocks along the country’s coast. 

However, the department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries refused to grant environmental authorisation for the powerships, stating the applicant had failed to meet the minimum public  participation requirements under environmental legislation. 

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