Mr Ramaphosa, Declare Emfuleni a Disaster Area, NOW!

Yet another Substation explosion, now averaging about one substation explosion per month – A steadily increasing state of despair for citizens and businesses of the Vaal! It’s just a matter of time before fatalities occur, given the abysmal state of disrepair manifested over decades of mismanagement by the Emfuleni Local Municipality (which has finally been placed under administration in 2018). 

And what precious little maintenance does actually occur, the incompetence and carelessness with which it is carried out only serves to exacerbate the situation.

The Emfuleni Local Municipality Strategic Electrical infrastructure has reached catastrophic proportions and a local disaster needs to be declared, as power affects the very ecological and economic survival of the region. All downstream infrastructure is affected, exponentially compounded by sewage pollution into the Vaal river of gargantuan proportions (over 100 million liters of raw, untreated sewage flows through streets, buildings and homes, and into the river, DAILY), already subject to another Petition to call on the President to declare that also a Provincial Disaster (although it has national repercussions).

Urgent and immediate National Government intervention is the only resolve now – Mr Ramaphosa, Declare Emfuleni a Disaster Area, NOW!

More information:

• The Water Forum SA Episode 52 with Dr Anthony Turton and Bridgetti Lim Banda
• SA Elections 2019: Is clean water as important as clean governance?
• Petition – Mr Ramaphosa Declare the Vaal River System in Gauteng a Provincial Disaster NOW
• Vaal clean-up: Eyebrows raised over Erwat appointment | IOL News
• Municipal sector faces collapse – Ratings Afrika – Moneyweb
• SAHRC investigates further sewage pollution allegations | Infrastructure news

Peruse our News Page for more news articles about the calamitous situation in Emfuleni.