Sewage problems in South Africa

19 February 2010

Infrastructure in South Africa's Cape Flats may need investment after it was revealed that sewage has overflowed on to dunes in the area.

The Zandvliet Waste Water Treatment Works usually deals with the sewage upstream and pipes the treated waste to sea.

But West Cape News has revealed that untreated sewage has appeared on Monwasbisi beach's dunes.

It is not yet certain why the problem has occurred, but the news agency predicted it may be down to overflows at the treatment works.

Deputy shadow minister of water and environmental affairs Annette Lovemore explained that South Africa as a whole is currently suffering from low compliance levels in this matter.

However, work is already being done to improve the situation. In 2008 the government launched the Green Drop certification programme for all waste water treatment works.

In his state of the nation address last week, President Zuma also pledged to invest in the country's infrastructure.

Category: Water