Gauteng's portfolio committee on environment says govt failed people of Hammanskraal by not providing clean water

Gauteng's portfolio committee on environment says government has failed the people of Hammanskraal in providing them with clean water.

Members of the committee conducted an oversight inspection at the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant on Friday.

The plant, which is currently being upgraded, is at the heart of the water issues in some areas of Pretoria North.

Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant has not been working optimally since 2011.

As a result, it has been discharging poorly treated water into the Apies River.

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When members of Gauteng's portfolio committee on environment visited the river today, they were met with discoloured water and a strong smell of sewage emanating from it.

"There were some maladministration, poor maintenance and lack of maintenance. Negligence if you want and unfortunately in the process there was scarce water resources being polluted and lives lost, unfortunately. Which is a very very serious situation. So from the portfolio committee's side we are here to see that the executive do their work and what we have found is that they have failed. People from the Tshwane metro and even our national level (government) failed the people in this area," said committee chairperson, Jaco Mulder.

Mulder said presentations made to the committee by government officials show it will take a long time to clear up the pollution in the water streams.