Zandvlei water contaminated - residents

After many farms in the area were flooded with water from a nearby treatment facility more than a week ago, the city's Anwar Adams got the water tested. File photo: Henk Kruger

After many farms in the area were flooded with water from a nearby treatment facility more than a week ago, the city's Anwar Adams got the water tested. File photo: Henk Kruger

Published Sep 16, 2013

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Cape Town - Animals and residents have fallen ill after being in contact with contaminated water in Zandvlei, near Macassar.

After many farms in the area were flooded with water from a nearby treatment facility more than a week ago, Cape Town’s Anwar Adams got the water tested.

“What I found when I went there was not nice. The results of the tests came back last week Thursday and the water quality was not good. The only thing residents can do with the water is use it for their crops.”

Adams, a human settlements portfolio committee member, said he went to the area after being asked by residents for help. He also spoke to the relevant mayoral committee members and other city officials to try to get a solution. “No one from the city was responding… the situation there is just unacceptable.”

Adams said residents had fallen ill after water flooded their homes.

“I have done my part in getting the city involved. We need to take pro-active action in this matter.”

Resident Nazeem Anthony said he had been to the local day hospital at least three times with dermatitis and was concerned about his children.

“The place stinks. I don’t really understand the results that came out but they say it’s toxic. The horses and animals and other people get sick.”

Anthony said the area flooded during rainy months but this year was particularly bad and residents had not received any help from the city.

“Some people keep cows for milk and chickens for meat and eggs. If they use these products from animals that drank the water, won’t it affect their system as well?

“Why don’t they help us with this? We work with our councillor on a lot of things but for this one he wasn’t available.” - Cape Argus

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