Expert highlights Duzi pollution levels

Environment activist, Sanele Vilakazi, says that raw sewerage spills into the Duzi River has reached crisis levels and unless urgent action is taken, the waterway is at risk of reaching catastrophic levels similar to the Vaal River.

The Msunduzi River from the Camps Drift showing high levels of pollution. There are growing fears that E-coli levels are reaching dangerous proportions just weeks before the Dusi Canoe Marathon.

Environment activist, Sanele Vilakazi, says that raw sewerage spills into the Duzi River has reached crisis levels and unless urgent action is taken, the waterway is at risk of reaching catastrophic levels similar to the Vaal River.
Vilakazi is one of the staff members at advocacy group Duzi Umngeni Conservation Trust (Duct) whose primary task is to guard environmental health of both Msunduzi and Umngeni rivers.
Speaking to Capital Newspapers, Vilakazi said they were worried that sewerage spills appeared to be occurring on a regular basis.
“The recent development in Gauteng, where sewerage pollution levels got to the point where water is poisonous, is a warning signal to all of us,” said Vilakazi. Recently spills have been reported in Imbali, Edendale and France Townships.
The spills then flow to the small tributaries which eventually get to Msunduzi River. With summer rains having started, there are fears that more spills will occur.
“When one considers the pollution levels in small rivers that flow to the main river and the fact that there are people who live downstream and make use of the water, then you realise the importance for those on the upper side of the river to ensure that there is minimal contamination of the water resource,” stressed Vilakazi.
Raw sewerage often contains the dangerous E-coli bacteria responsible for serious health hazards, including possible death. The most commonly reported symptoms of E-coli infection are stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever.
In two month’s time, thousands of paddlers will descend upon the Msunduzi River for the world-acclaimed Dusi Canoe Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban,
The sewerage spills are blamed on old and overstretched water and sanitation infrastructure and the lack of swift response to deal with spills. But Vilakazi stresses that residents are equally to blame for this.
According to Vilakazi, the fate of rivers lies in upstream communities taking ownership of their rivers and streams and caring about their surroundings.
“So it is not just a case of infrastructure backlogs but also about community education and communities taking ownership. We can be very quick to judge the municipality as the responsible party but if families and communities played their part we would be able to limit the sewerage spills,” said Vilakazi.
According to Msunduzi municipal acting spokesperson, Ntobeko Ngcobo, the municipality is aware of the sewer leaks that have been reported in parts of Edendale and Imbali and is working with DUCT to address the growing concern.