Pollution of the VaalTHE FSE PRESENTED ON INVITATION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISION ON THE POLLUTION OF THE VAAL. ATTACHED ARE THE PRESENTATIONS. |
SUMMARY OF WATER RELATED CHALLENGES IN SOUTH AFRICA 2018SUMMARY OF WATER RELATED CHALLENGES IN SOUTH AFRICA 2018 INTRODUCTION This summary was compiled by the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) grounded upon its involvement as member of the various organs of state’s project steering committees, study steering committees, expert steering committees, advisory committees, task teams, forums, etc. since and prior to its inauguration in 2007. |
WATER ISSUES: Continuation of the Integrated Vaal River System Reconciliation StrategyWATER ISSUES: Continuation of the Integrated Vaal River System Reconciliation Strategy Study (PHASE 2). The FSE is a member of the Strategy Steering Committee and actively participated in the meeting on the 27th of February, 2018. |
SUBMISSION ON THE DWS MASTER PLANWRITTEN SUBMISSION ON THE DRAFT 2.6: NATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION MASTER PLAN (NW&SMP) In this document, the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (“FSE”) submits comments on the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, draft 2.6 (the “draft plan”). THE FSE: The FSE is a federation of community based civil society organisations committed to the realisation of the constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, and to having the environment sustainably managed and protected for future generations. Their mission is specifically focussed on addressing the adverse impacts of mining and industrial activities on the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities who live and work near South Africa’s mines and industries. In accordance with the above-mentioned mission, the FSE’s comments are limited to matters pertaining to the mining industry. The FSE’s comments will be substantiated by real examples within the scope of the FSE’s experience and our active participation in a significant number of environmental impacts assessments, environmental management programme reports, water use license applications, environmental authorisations, steering committees, forums, task teams, teams of experts, academic research groups, boards, etc. over a period of 15 (fifteen years).[1] [1] Kindly note that the Legal Resources Centre assisted with this publication. |
Invitation by the DWS to participate in a working session regarding the draft National Water and Sanitation Master Plan: to be held on 2 February 2018 at the DBSA Conference CentreThe following preliminary comments on the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan (NW&SMP) are submitted on behalf of the Federation for Sustainable Environment (FSE). The FSE is a federation of community based civil society organisations committed to the realisation of the constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, and to having the environment sustainably managed and protected for future generations. Their mission is specifically focussed on addressing the adverse impacts of mining and industrial activities on the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities who live and work near South Africa’s mines and industries. In accordance with the above-mentioned mission, the FSE’s comments are limited to matters pertaining to the mining industry. The FSE’s comments will be substantiated by real examples within the scope of the FSE’s experience and our active participation in a significant number of environmental impacts assessments, environmental management programme reports, water use license applications, environmental authorisations, steering committees, forums, task teams, teams of experts, academic research groups, boards, etc. over a period of 15 (fifteen years). The FSE, with the support and representation of the Legal Resource Centre (LRC), is currently in the process of preparing additional comments on the NW&SMP. In view of the aforesaid, we respectfully request allowance to refine and augment our preliminary comments. |
Project to heal polluted river . System will·create stream·of jobsTHE POTENTIAL to create 100 climate jobs and to help : bring a "dead river system" back to life -that's the rationale behind a proposed pilot project to heal one of Gauteng's most heavily polluted river systems, the Tweelopiespruit, which has been contaminated by more than a century of mining. |
'Mine Water can be treated, safe'SOUTH Africans have to "change their mindsets" that they can't drink acid mine drainage (AMD). |
Eastern Basin acid water plant is "sledgehammer"The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has used a "sledgehammer" for its R1bn treatment plant for acid mine drainage (AMD) on the Eastern mining basin that could ultimately create more toxic water. This is the view of water strategy and consulting mining hydrologist Kym Morton, who believes government is "wasting money" by pumping large volumes of water and adding lime that makes it alkaline but still toxic and hazardous. |
SABC Health Talk, Environmental Health: 25 February 2017Focus on preventing illness rather than incurring the expense of treatment. |
Rand Water tightens the taps in GautengIn the Midvaal suburb where Sipho Mosai lives, the gardens are lush and green because the sprinklers run all day. There's little sense of alarm at the fast-declining water levels in the Vaal water system after which the suburb is named. |
Objection: Sedibelo Platinum Mine Water Use LicenceThe Federation for a Sustainable Environment has objected to the Water Use Licence granted to Sedibelo Platinum Mine within the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, North West Province. An extract from the objection follows, and the full document is available to download. |
Corruption seeps into South Africa’s R26 billion water project: reportWater affairs and sanitation minister Nomvula Mokonyane is in the cross-hairs of the Public Protector after delaying South Africa’s Lesotho Highlands Water Project, allegedly to award contracts to a company she has a long-standing relationship with. This is according to a report by the City Press, noting that the Public Protector will meet with Mokonyane over the issue this week. The project has been delayed by over a year due to Mokonyane’s direct intervention, the report said, pushing its completion date to 2025, and pushing the price up to R26 billion. The entire project is being funded by taxpayers. Senior officials told the City Press that the delay was forced by Mokonyane so that consulting firm, LTE Consulting, could get involved. According to the City Press’ findings, LTE has been awarded R5 billion worth of contracts in water and sanitation over the past year. It was also found that the company had donated as much as R3.5 million to the ANC in the past two months. The standard fee for consultation is 10% of the total cost, the paper said, meaning a spot on the water project could net the company as much as R2.6 billion. Executives from LTE have reportedly been contacting and paying delegates involved with the project, trying to convince them the give them tenders. When told by officials that the company had to bid for tenders, LTE CEO Thulani Majola allegedly said that he was not interested in bidding, and would approach Mokonyane directly. Subsequently, the bids for a number of tenders – from other companies – were rejected by the department soon thereafter. http://businesstech.co.za/ |
Water Quality Management Policies and StrategiesIn response to the country's need to take an improved integrated approach to Water Quality Management, the Department of Water and Sanitation has recently initiated a project to revise its current Water Quality Management (WQM) Policies and Strategies. |
Questions raised about govt's approach to acid mine drainageThe Department of Water and Sanitation's existing treatment programme involving pumping acid mine drainage out of the Witwatersrand basin and then partially treating the water by neutralising it will not assist in alleviating the challenge in the long term, says the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) CEO Mariette Liefferink. |
Water scientist disputes NGO's claim of Mintails' criminal noncomplianceJOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Environmental risk analyst Dr Anthony Turton has vehemently denied claims by independent environmental organisation the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) that tailings extractor Mintails has not complied with the terms of its water-use licence (WUL) and other environmental requirements to the extent that makes it criminally culpable. |
DWS is not compliant on AMDMariette Lierfferink, CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment states that while the Department of Water and Sanitation alleges that the Acid Mine Drainage situation is no longer a reason for concern, the investigation report by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) adduces evidence to the contrary. |
"Fracking threatens our water resources" 64% vote yes‘Fracking threatens our water resources’: This was the topic in the third of WWF and SAfm’s Decisive Debate series. |
Legal not technical problems bedevil water delivery in SAThe barrier to efficient water service delivery in South Africa was not of a technological nature but rather related to legal and Constitutional challenges, Water Research Commission (WRC) CEO Dhesigen Naidoo said on Thursday. BY: LEANDI KOLVER |
Mintails: Conditions for Water Use LicenseIn terms of Condition 12.9 of the authorised Water Use License “The Licensee shall attend and actively participate in the Wonderfontein/Loopspruit catchment forum to which the Licensee must report and present all aspects of water management as contained in the conditions of this license such as compliance with the licence conditions and progress with all investigations in terms of this license or related studies...” |
New treatment plant opened as acid water poursAs Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa unveiled a new multi-million rand acid mine drainage treatment plant yesterday, a few kilometres away of a torrent of untreated toxic water was gushing uncontrollably into an already blighted river system. |
LUR tree in bres vir ‘fabrieke van water’Pinky Phosa, LUR vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling, omgewingsake en toerisme, is gister wyd geloof vir die feit dat sy “twee water¬fabrieke” in Mpumalanga tot bewaringsgebiede geproklameer het.Die een is by Wakkerstroom en die ander by Chrissiesmeer. |
Ways to kill a wetlandIn late June 2013, Exxaro, one of South Africa’s largest coal-mining companies with assets of R41.6-billion, commenced opencast mining at Weltevreden pan close to Delmas, in the mineral-rich province of Mpumalanga. Or rather, re-commenced. Report by Franz Fuls Report by Franz Fuls |
Charges laid against AngloGold Ashanti over polluting minFurther charges are being laid against AngloGold Ashanti for a spill that resulted in uranium-laden water going into a tributary of the Vaal River. |
AngloGold Spills Toxic Waste Near South Africa's Vaal RiverAnglo Gold Ashanti Ltd., Africa's largest producer of the metal, said it spilled toxic waste from a gold-dump treatment unit into a tributary of South Africa's Vaal River. By Kevin Crowley |
National Water Resources StrategyThe Department of Water Affairs has written to the FSE, expressing appreciation for the submission to the draft National Water Resources Strategy 2 (NWRS2) of 30 January 2013. |
Disclaimer: This site features articles written by journalists who have contacted the FSE for information and input. The FSE is not responsible for the content of the final published article, or the accuracy of the information contained. The articles remain the copyright of the original authors and/or publishers. If you reproduce the article you must have the permission of the original author/publisher.
All images and logos are copyrighted to their respective owners.