Sol dispels ‘fake news’ about water
STOP spreading fake messages about the water in Kimberley. This is the warning from the Sol Plaatje Municipality after the local authority was inundated with enquiries regarding the quality of the water after social media warnings that “there is something in the water”.
The message, posted on social media, stated: Moet asb ni di water drink want municipality het nu net laat weet dat daar iets in di water geval het so wees versigtig en hou asb di kinders vani krane af weg asb. Stu aan as jn hart vr ane mense”. (Please do not drink the water because the municipality has just stated that something fell into the water. Be careful and keep children away from taps. Forward if you care about other people.)
Municipal spokesperson Sello Matsie pointed out that the message had no name, source or date.
“We urge residents so stop spreading nonsense and to take a moment and just think about it. What does something in the water mean – is it a fly, a body? The message is vague and is aimed at spreading panic without any basis or substance.”
He reminded members of the public that the municipality had a legal obligation to report to national as well as provincial government, as well as inform residents, if the water supply was not fit for consumption.
“We would have to tell residents to stop drinking the water immediately or to take certain steps to ensure that it is not harmful.”
Matsie pointed out further that municipal employees themselves were also consumers of water. “If there is anything wrong with the water quality or it poses any danger to humans, we would also not want to consume it.”
He stated that this was also not the first time that rumours were spread about the quality of the water.
“This type of thing, even if it is started in jest, spreads like wildfire and causes panic and mayhem. People spreading this type of fake news must remember that it is a criminal offence to cause panic among members of the public and the police have ways of tracing messages back to the source.”
Matsie said the municipality would not hesitate to open criminal charges against people found spreading fake information about the water.
“We have never denied that there is pollution dumped in the Vaal River further upstream, while bodies are also found in the water. As a local authority, we take the necessary steps, however, to treat the water to ensure that it is safe for human consumption and there are no harmful effects. Water is not something that one jokes or plays around with because it is essential to everyone’s survival.”
He appealed to members of the public that the next time they saw messages like this, they should scrutinise it properly before believing every word they read.
“Look at the message, is there a name at the bottom, or a date and how much information is given. Spreading fake messages just causes panic and terror.”