A NATIONAL CRISIS
The water lettuce and hyacinth infestation has ‘carpeted’
vast areas of the beautiful Vaal River. These noxious
weeds thrive on high nutrient levels in water, deplete
oxygen and cause harm to aquatic life, tourism, job
creation, the property market and further hit the local
economy.
The prime cause is the high levels of sewage pollution
from dysfunctional waste water systems. SAVE the
VAAL has been fighting this pollution for 20 years. The
litigation focus is now on the national ministers of Water
and Sanitation and Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
Progress has been made with Rand Water
fixing/refurbishing Emfuleni Municipality’s broken
treatment plants.

SAVE THE VAAL defined the water lettuce and hyacinth
infestation as a ‘national crisis, requiring drastic action
because of the impact affects not only to the Barrage Reservoir but also many downstream
users that extract water for domestic use and the damage farming irrigation equipment
downstream to the Orange River and beyond.
SAVE and other stakeholders alerted the Department of Water and Sanitation and Rand
Water to the start of the problem in 2021. The biological process started in 2021 and was
abandoned. In early January 2024 water lettuce reappeared in abundance. There was a
slow reaction from the authorities to the extent that SAVE deemed it necessary to put the
authorities on notice of SAVE’s intention to make an urgent application to the high court.
Thanks to Rand water’s a speedy response to our attorney, the SAVE committee pended its
application.
We regard court action as a last resort when communication fails.

Rand Water are focusing on a three-pronged strategy of biological interference (a long-term
process that will need to be sustained over many years), spraying herbicides and physical
removal. Herbicide spray is controversial but drastic measures are required. An area of the
river has been sprayed and weevils have been placed in strategic areas.
Rand Water is now working closely with the Vaal River community and supervised the
spraying in accordance with the requirements of the law and the General Authorization
granted by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

AN AWESOME COMMUNITY EFFORT
The Vaal River community has risen up to fight water lettuce and hyacinth, giving their time,
boats, labour, equipment and financial support to physically remove the weeds. Community
members organised themselves into teams to physically remove the weed by innovative use
of boats, ropes and heavy earth moving equipment and ingenious barriers to prevent the
spread of the infestation into the Loch. What’s App groups have kept everyone in the picture.

There are just too many people to thank personally, but you all know who you are and SAVE
applauds your valiant effort and trusts that this ‘togetherness’ will continue into the future to
deal with other issues that cause damage to the beautiful river.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
On 5th February, Rand Water’s Corporate Services General Manager hosted a group of
stakeholders where he stated that Rand Water accepted responsibility for an action plan to
deal with the problem. He also said that the community would play an important role in this
plan.
Within two weeks, working with the community, all the first weevils and hoppers were
introduced to certain sections of the river, the river was sprayed, and Rand Water
announced that it would be working closely with Rhodes University’ Biological Department
on a breeding programme. There is also talk that community members will be allowed to set
up their own breeding stations. The Vaal River community’s efforts continue daily with the
physical removal of the weeds, and it is to be hoped that Rand Water will further support this
effort.
We trust that Rand Water will continue with its action plan and leadership role and maintain
communication with and involvement of the community.
Members of the community are, in the meantime, continuing with their work in specific areas
of the river to physically remove these weeds.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS – to prevent sewage entering the river – UPDATE
SAVE has continued to focus on its litigation process against the Ministers of Water and
Sanitation, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries to deal urgently with the cause of the water
lettuce infestation, i.e. the ongoing flow or raw/partially treated sewage from the Emfuleni
Waste Water system.
Our sincere thanks to Jeremy Ridl, environmental specialist attorney, Advocate Paul
Carstensen SC, Advocates Donavan Smith and Peggy Schoeman who have worked
tirelessly and successfully on this case.

Affidavits and attachments received from the Minister of Water and Sanitation concerning
action plans and progress to date in dealing with the sewage inflow caused by the Emfuleni
Waste Water Treatment system. The contents of these documents did not meet the
requirements of the Court Order (achieved by consent). Therefore, SAVE the VAAL applied
to the Deputy Judge President for case management.

Deputy Judge President Sutherland chaired this meeting held in February. This was followed by correspondence from our legal team to the respondents’ attorneys with a schedule setting out the detailed information which is required. A reply is expected at the beginning of March. If SAVE is dissatisfied with this response, it may apply to the DJP for the matter to be enrolled for a hearing.

VAAL DAM UPDATE
Our Vaal Dam representative, Kathy Manten, is also experiencing communication problems with the Metsi-maholo Municipality. The issues outstanding include progress reports on the commissioning of the new Refinokgotso Waste Water Treatment Plant, the vehemently opposed dis-charge point for this treatment plant in a sensitive area of the Vaal dam.

RIETSPRUIT CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT FORUM

SAVE attends these quarterly meetings, the most recent being on 13th February. Water
quality reports for the period October – December 2023 confirm that there has been no
improvement in water quality in this catchment.
These reports can be reviewed on the website www.reservoir.co.za.

VAAL INTERVENTION – SECTION 63

The lack of communication from the Department of Water and Sanitation and Rand Water to
stakeholders in the Vaal regarding progress is of concern. SAVE knows that work is going
on but it is unknown how much real progress is being made towards the aim of stopping
sewage pollution of the river. Water quality analysis reports do not reflect any progress.

Communication builds relationships and facilitates a better understanding of the challenges
being faced by the Section 63 team (so why the silence from the authorities?).

SAVE will address this issue as soon as the action plan/progress reports are received from
the DWS Minister.