Berg River pollution not yet under control
2007-09-06
POLLUTION problems in the Berg River are less severe than two years ago, but if it is not brought under control, South Africa’s fruit and vegetable exports to the EU and the US would be at risk, says Janine Myburgh, President of the Cape Regional Chamber.
She addressed the annual Cape Cabinet Meets Business Seminar in Cape Town last week.
She told the symposium that, two years ago, the province had earned the equivalent of a yellow card when pollution levels in the Berg River were found to be between five and 24 times the EU’s permitted maximum for food production.
The key to the problem was to stop polluted matter entering the water. This would necessitate cleaning up river banks, providing better sanitation facilities for informal settlements and controlling the discharge of waste water from the municipalities, wineries, intensive farms and industry.
This would require a combined effort from the municipalities, the Province, the Department of Water Affairs, the agricultural authorities and industry.
“I am able to report that a great deal of work has been going on and the situation has improved considerably. In addition this winter’s heavy rains have flushed out the river systems and given us a breathing space, but the need remains to deal urgently with the root causes of the problem.
“If we are to avoid a red card, the intervention will have to be intensified and we urge the Province to ensure that the municipalities which discharge waste water into the river clean up this water to internationally accepted standards.”
Myburgh told the symposium that it was important to promote economic development and the creation of new industries, but it was perhaps even more important to defend and protect the industries that were already delivering results and sustaining jobs.
“There are plenty of competitors out there in the wider world who will not hesitate to take advantage of doubts about the quality of our fruit exports.
“In this connection it might be instructive to bear in mind the massive recalls of Chinese products that failed to meet stringent health standards. Our trading partners in the EU and the US are quite prepared to dish out red cards,” she said.
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