Water Deputy Minister Calls For Urgent Action Against Pollution In Vaal River

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo urged leaders in the water sector on Thursday to take strong action against the pollution and contamination of the country's water resources.

Seitlholo spoke at the launch of the Vaal River Anti-Pollution Forum, which aims to tackle the ongoing pollution issues that impact the water quality in the Vaal River.

Seitlholo warned that water pollution is one of the biggest threats to the country's water security and sustainability. He challenged the leaders to decide whether they would take action to protect this valuable resource for future generations.

"Indeed colleagues, we must decide here today whether we will be the ones who will be remembered for directing the course of every river and every stream to a sustainable future of access to clean and safe water for all. I am here to sound the alarm," Seitlholo said, SA News reported.

He added, "Like the captain of a ship on a rough course at sea, I am here to sound the blasts. I am here to say, this is our moment to act and act decisively against the pollution and contamination of our water resources or we will face a disaster of titanic proportions."

Seitlholo noted that the Vaal River is 1,200-kilometer-long - which is the second largest river in South Africa after the Orange River - and flows through several provinces, including Mpumalanga (where it starts near Ermelo), Gauteng, the Free State and the Northern Cape.

He explained that large dams, such as Grootdraai, the Vaal, and Bloemhof dams, have been built on the river to provide a steady water supply to the residents of these provinces and to industries that rely on the river's water.

The Vaal Dam is vital as it is the main supplier of water to Gauteng, the economic center of South Africa. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the Vaal River is essential for the country's economy and supports millions of jobs and livelihoods.

He stressed that if the river system were to be severely polluted, it would lead to the loss of millions of jobs and lives. He stated that this is a critical moment for the future of this valuable water resource.

In April, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu announced the creation of the forum, which aims to coordinate, improve and integrate efforts to manage the quality of the Vaal River. This will involve addressing risks identified by the 16 Catchment Management Forums (CMFs).

Currently, there are 16 sub-catchment forums, with 10 in the Upper Vaal, four in the Middle Vaal, and two in the Lower Vaal. Seitlholo explained that the forum will tackle larger systemic issues that cannot be solved within these smaller sub-catchments.