HUMAN SETTLEMENT
The total number of houses damaged by the sludge is 164, the provincial government reported yesterday.
The government said 51 houses were damaged in Charlesville while 113 were also affected in Itumeleng. There are currently four alternative sites which have been identified for the building of temporary structures.
“We are waiting for sites to be cleaned up so that the technicians can access the houses so that structural assessments of houses can be done. The Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) have promised to run tests in order to give a clear indication whether there are any materials that could cause harm to human life,” the Office of the Premier said.
ENVIRONMENT
“DESTEA has issued a NEMA Section 30A directive to Jagersfontein Developments Pty (Ltd), which provides for a person to be issued with a directive permitting them to carry out a listed or specified activity, without obtaining an environmental authorisation, in order to prevent or contain an emergency situation or the effects of the emergency situation. This directive will allow the company to start with the rehabilitation of the infrastructure and affected environment.
“DESTEA, together with DWS (Department of Water and Sanitation) and DFFE, are conducting chemical assessment of the sludge and the affected river systems for levels of heavy metals and other chemicals, which if present beyond the allowable threshold may be harmful to both humans and animals.”
The provincial government said DESTEA scientists are also conducting toxicology studies of dead fish species along the affected river systems to asses cause of death, “and any other interventions will be developed depending on how the rehabilitation process unfolds on the ground”.
WATER AND ELECTRICITY
The main Eskom substation was affected by the disaster, which left the whole area without electricity.
The wastewater treatment plant was also covered by sludge, and as a result Bloem Water was unable to operate its plant. However, the entity dispatched water tankers. Water and electricity were subsequently fully restored to the area.
