AfriForum steps in

THELangkloof community and local AfriForum branch teamed up to repair the Misgund sewage treatment plant yesterday – something that the KouKamma municipality has failed to do for five years.

This initiative follows AfriForum’s presenting the municipality with an ultimatum to repair the treatment plant and bring it up to standard. However, the ultimatum fell on deaf ears and forced the community, including farmers from Louterwater, to intervene.

“The terrain was in a terrible condition with no security. Among other things, we deforested the area and hired an engineer to repair the system,” says Delarey Rademeyer, chairman of the Langkloof branch.

The company Water Engineering Consult compiled a report detailing the state of the sewage treatment plant and listing the solutions. According to the report, there was a blockage in the settling tank which kept the bacteria needed for the treatment of the sewage from being cultivated.

“Sewage works must be monitored constantly. Therefore the engineers did not only repair the plant, but also trained the community to maintain it. With sufficient maintenance the plant will be able to deliver purified water within three weeks,” says Rademeyer.

Marnus van Staden, provincial co-ordinator for AfriForum in the Eastern Cape, says Langkloof is one of the last areas in South Africa where agriculture is the main economic sector.

“The municipality is quick to brag about agriculture in the area, but when farmers ask for assistance they are ignored. We had no choice but to do the work ourselves. There are also dams that are run by the irrigation council so that farmers can securely develop crops.”

AfriForum will continue with the case to claim back all expenses from the municipality since it was its responsibility to maintain the plant.

Add your name to the case against the municipality by texting MISGUND to 32078 (R1).