Though many have been quick to label this an ANC problem, the real explanation is much less political – Photo: SA Emergency Reports / Twitter
Though many have been quick to label this an ANC problem, the real explanation is much less political – Photo: SA Emergency Reports / Twitter
This isn’t a pretty sight. Hartbeespoort Dam – one of the largest in South Africa – has seen its water turn green in some parts. This has made the facility look rather unpalatable to observers. However, those keen to blame the government for this fiasco may be firing wide of the mark.
WATCH: Why are parts of Hartbeespoort Dam turning green?
Videos have been shared online over the weekend, showing how the green, algae-like covering has hidden the water almost completely in selected areas of Harties. Boats are left to float on top of the questionable substance, with debris sticking to the surface good measure.
One clip captures ‘the green blanket’ spreading for as far as the eye can see. The person who shared the footage says that it was taken ‘within the last 24 hours’. Hartbeespoort Dam is usually a huge draw for tourists and local visitors are like – but these visuals are likely to now put guests off.
As far as the eyes can see. State of Hartbeespoort dam. #voetsekanc sies fok. pic.twitter.com/T4t0CwHFzF
— SA REPORTS (@MARIUSBROODRYK) August 7, 2022
There’s a logical, non-political explanation for this…
The Tourism Friendly group has since confirmed that a floating fern called ‘Salvinia’ is responsible the undesirable green layer on the surface of Hartbeespoort Dam. It’s known for creating a ‘dense mat’, blocking sunlight to all other aquatic life.
- A local service is now working to remove the plant-life:
“Salvinia is a rapidly growing aquatic floating fern usually used in ponds. It forms dense mats which prevent sunlight from reaching other indigenous plants in the water, as well as fish. The Harties Boat Company has taken up the task to remove the Salvinia this week.”
Tourism Friendly
Hartbeespoort Dam battling Salvinia growth
Meanwhile, work is ongoing at Rhodes University to create a ‘biological control agent’ that can rid Hartbeespoort of its Salvinia problem. Keneilwe Sebola is a scientist based at the institution – and she confirmed that the issue is not an ‘ANC-caused’ one.
It’s actually Salvinia minima, not molesta. @RhodesUniCBC is working on a biological control agent for it. The dam has a secondary invasive, in the warmer months water hyacinth will become dominant again. Water hyacinth has been an issue for this dam since the 1970s.
— Keneilwe Sebola (@Keneilwe_Sebola) August 6, 2022
Makes a change, we suppose…
