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Cholera Outbreak in Harts and Lower Vaal Rivers

Advertorial:
Cholera Outbreak in Harts and Lower Vaal Rivers:

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for immediate action to address the cholera bacteria detected in sections of the Harts and lower Vaal Rivers, as announced by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). This contamination, from Christiana to Douglas Weir, threatens communities in the North West and Northern Cape, and requires a swift, coordinated response to prevent further harm.

While we recognise the efforts of Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo through the Vaal River Anti-Pollution Forum, this outbreak exposes the severe consequences of long-standing water infrastructure failures and poor pollution management. The DA has repeatedly warned of the need for urgent water governance reforms, and this situation demonstrates that delays in action can result in serious public health risks.

It’s important to note that the contamination affects the lower Vaal area, and communities upstream, such as those in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, are not immediately at risk. Nevertheless, all South Africans must heed local authorities’ guidance, especially water users in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mopati, Francis Baard, and Pixley ka Seme District Municipalities, who should avoid consuming untreated water and boil water as a precaution.

The DA calls for the following immediate actions:

  1. Strengthened Water Treatment: Water services authorities in affected districts must implement strict chlorination and disinfection protocols for all water supplies. These measures must continue until water quality is confirmed safe;
  2. Transparency from Local Authorities: Municipalities responsible for water treatment, including Naledi, Greater Taung, and Leekwa Teemane, must communicate clearly with their communities, providing regular updates on steps being taken to prevent further contamination; and
  3. Accountability and Monitoring: Municipalities and industries responsible for polluting our water systems must be held accountable. This is both a health emergency and a governance failure that requires immediate corrective action.

Residents must remain vigilant, but there is no need to panic. The government has the necessary tools to manage this outbreak if all stakeholders work together. The DA will closely monitor the situation and push for transparent and immediate interventions to protect public health and safety.

The well-being of our citizens is our priority, and the DA will continue to fight for stronger water governance to prevent future crises.

Regards

Stephen Moore MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Water and Sanitation

– MyZA

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.