By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Water utility Rand Water embarked on its mission to rid the Vaal River from its infestation of water lettuce and hyacinth by spraying the herbicide glyphosate.
The move was met with widespread outcry over the potential environmental and health risks posed by the initiative.
Water lettuce exploded along the Vaal River in December 2023, causing residents to urgently find a solution to deal with the ever-growing plants.
Rand Water was given an urgent general authorisation by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to begin an integrated approach to manage the water lettuce, which includes physical removal, biocontrol and chemical application, as advised by experts by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE).
In a statement, the Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, and Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu have noted public concerns related to the use of chemical, glyphosate, to clear alien invasive plants from the Vaal River by Rand Water.
Water lettuce is a poisonous and highly invasive free-floating freshwater weed that is normally found in lakes, dams, ponds, irrigation channels and slow-moving waterways in tropical, sub-tropical, and warmer regions.
Following the complaints aired by the public, the two ministers and other relevant parties met and agreed to determine whether the clearing methods are in line with the regulatory environment and to devise a plan that ensures that the clearing of the alien invasive plants is done in a manner that poses no harm to the environment.
Once that process is concluded, the Departments will issue a further statement on the way forward.
Rand Water also announced the release of insects to attack the leaves of the invasive plant.
The water board earlier said it would use approved and permitted herbicides that will be released into the water under the guidance of senior and qualified Rand Water officials.
It further said the introduction of chemical control was a short-term intervention that would be followed by non-chemical medium and long-term interventions.
Carin Visser, Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the National Council of Provinces, has expressed her disbelief at the use of glyphosate to spray the fast-growing water weeds.
“It is shocking that the departments of water and sanitation and forestry, fisheries and the environment are not fulfilling their mandate to protect the environment and our water sources. The Vaal River has been destroyed and won’t be saved by the use of herbicide.”
The Integrated Vaal River System serves as essential water source of 19 million people in Gauteng, the Free State, Northern Cape and North West provinces through 14 dams, which are purified by Rand Water.