Mine contaminated water at Motse river
Victoria Makgoo
In Morapaneng village goats and cows use to drink water from Motse river but everything has changed since the mines started operating. It looks like the mining bosses are looking at their profits and fogerting what is happening in the communities as a result of the mining activities.
Goats and cows still drink Motse river water which is been polluted by Hackney mine stream that is from the mine. Since Department of Minerals had done water testing and found chemicals in the water, the mine promised that they will connect pipes which will supply chromex mine and the contaminated water will not go into the river. This is the same thing that Twickenum mine is also doing and up to this day nothing has been done, the pipes that were supposed to be connected are not there and this is dangerous to the whole community and livestock that quench their thirst from Motse river.
Animals can drink dirty water and remain healthy much of the time, but not always. Water that is from mine stream can cause illness and death of animals because the water is being contaminated by chemicals.
Livestock owners from community are also complaining about water from the mine and other community members who are using river water for their plants. The mine promised to make a grazing land for the livestock but that too it’s like a tale.
I was speaking to Mmapule who said that their vegetables are not growing, they look smaller. Before the mining they never had that kind of a problem because all was well. She used to plant and sell to other community members but now she can’t sell them anymore. She is scared that people might get sick and the vegetables look strange. She plants vegetables so that she can add the income to the government grant to feed her family as she is a single parent. She is very sad because at the beginning she thought the mine will make things better but things are getting worse, the business that she wanted to grow is going down the drain because of the contaminated water from the mine.
Contaminated water make fish and plants deficient in their ability to regenerate and reproduce. Animals fall prey to variety of diseases due to drinking polluted water. Contaminated water is not only unsuitable for drinking but also for agriculture purpose.
Solution to the problem will be for the community to engage the mine again because people will lose their livestock and also unable to plant vegetables. Cost of living is too high, things are very expensive this days and people who depend on water from the river will struggle because of the mine.
The mine should be held accountable and take responsibility for the loss of income to the people who were using Motse River for their businesses or livestock that is lost or unwell. If not, mining companies will continue to take us for granted and pocket profits while the communities are suffering.
