Tunatazama - Community Monitors

NYAKALLONG FARMERS SUFFERING DUE TO POISONED WATER

Tshepo Tsie

NYAKALLONG FARMERS SUFFERING DUE TO POISONED WATER

                                                                                                                                  

Land is one of the most valuable assets in life; it is also a very multifaceted subject in the current political debates. The current conditions and the red tape that concerns the ownership of land have been a hindrance for most aspiring small farmers. Lack of arable land and foreign-owned land is a serious problem for most people in South Africa. Both small-scale and commercial farming has always been the backbone of our economy in the community of Nyakallong. The sector has also faced its fair share of challenges in recent years. Farmers have lost a sizable amount of crop output as a result of the contaminated soil in Nyakallong, the quality of the soil is preventing farmers from harvesting according to their expectations. This is a result of the contaminated underground water that is discharged into the Voelpan dam by Harmony Shaft One. This problem has been a major issue for the residents for many years now.

 

The soil contamination with pollutants and other toxic metals makes it difficult for the farmers to determine the quality of the soil to plant the relevant crops for a particular season. The environment is also no longer habitable for living organisms and also for livestock grazing. Polluted soil releases contaminants into the underground water, which is later sucked by the plants and accumulated in the plant tissues. This soil is rendered sterile in the process and the nitrogen fixation is reduced, nutrients are lost on a large scale and the output is imbalanced. The imbalance of fauna and flora is the direct side effect of this contamination and productivity is reduced drastically.

 

One of the farmers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is also affected by the Voelpan dam. She alluded that she has been a farmer all her life, but due to an unmaintained dam, she lost immensely in terms of profit from her crops. The saddest part is that she is living off the land and crops to support her family. Her plants are not growing to the required height and have to pay the wages of her employees. The health and the general well-being of the farmers and their employees have suffered a great deal as a result of exposure to such toxic chemicals. They have developed complications such as headaches, constant coughing, chest pains, nausea, and skin and eye irritation.

 

One solution to this problem is to prevent Harmony from continuing to discharge water and chemicals into the dam. Restore the quality of the soil through rehabilitation of the environment and make all the mining companies comply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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