No permanent solution to Thamalakane pollution - MEWT

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Monday May 14, 2012 00:00

Samuel Rathedi, Permanent Secretary at the ministry, said not only is the town's hospital pouring sewage into the river, but other government buildings are culprits as well. He noted that the pollution threatens both the tourism industry and public health.  Rathedi told the PAC that owing to financial constraints, they cannot duly address the situation. He revealed that they occasionally send a team there to assess the situation and advise local authorities on remedies that can reduce the impact on the environment.

He said that they budgeted for a sewage system but priority was given to Molepolole and Kanye. He, however, noted that Maun is marked as an area in desperate need of a sewage system.  In spite of the pollution, residents were long forced to drink from the river due to severe shortage of water after boreholes broke down.  Some residents say the hospital is a threat to their health.

'We use this river for fishing, farming, water consumption and other recreational purposes,' said a resident on condition of anonymity. She feared that they might get sick from consuming water from the river. She also cried that their children were at risk of contracting infections when playing in the water.

'There have been dead fish along the river banks. Although we cannot prove it, they could have died from substances disposed into the river. Now we are worried that anything can happen anytime,' she said.  She added that the pollution of the river also poses a risk to their livestock.

After previously denying that they are polluting the river, Letsholathebe Hospital Superintendent, Dr Maxwell Mugnai, said sewage is disposed into the river after it has been treated. He revealed that solid waste is taken to a landfill in the town. 'This treated water is actually safer than the river water,' he said. He said that they are surprised that residents are panicking about the discharge when they are usually educated about health matters through Kgotla meetings and hospital advisory committees.

He claimed that they have never received any complaints from the public about the pollution.v