As predicted, mine water started to decant from a borehole and an old shaft on the property of Harmony Gold in 2000.  Not only is about 17 mega-litres of water decanting per day, the huge volume of water is also highly polluted: it is acidic and radio-active.

The water decants into the Tweelopiespruit which runs into the Krugersdorp Game Reserve.  2 months ago, all the fish in the dams and streams in the reserve died.  Some antelope and a lion cub died as well – presumably from the polluted water.

More and more fingers are pointing at the mines, the Mogale City municipality and the Departments of Water Affairs and Minerals and Energy.  Why was nothing done to prevent the water from decanting?  What, if anything, is being done to treat the polluted water?

Producer Karin d’Orville and cameraman Jan de Klerk tell the story.

Also:

A small squatter community in the suburb of Lorraine in Port Elizabeth made history by successfully defending their case against eviction by the City council in the Constitutional court.

The highest court in the land admonished the council for not taking reasonable steps to provide alternative housing to the community. This judgment has far reaching implications for many councils countrywide.