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Below is the response from Dr. Guy Preston after the pictures had been sent to him

From: Preston Guy (CPT) [mailto:GPreston@dwaf.gov.za]
Sent: 24 October 2006 09:54 AM
To: Morne Viljoen
Cc: gpreston@mweb.co.za
Subject: RE: Roodeplaat Dam - Hyacinths

Dear Morne

Thank you for this. We are aware of the problem, and Minister Lindiwe Hendricks has personally intervened in the matter. We are spraying at the moment. With the right funding (about R300,000), we could bring it back under control by the end of the year. However, water quality remains a big problem, and this exacerbates the effort to control the weed. It's growth is too vigorous for biological control agents to keep it under control under these circumstances.

Regrettably, there is no progress on the NEMBA Regulations.

Regards

Guy

Dr Guy Preston
Chairperson / National Programme Leader
The Working for Water Programme
[Patron in Chief: Nelson Mandela]

Co-Chair: The Working on Fire Programme
Co-Chair: The Working for Wetlands Programme
Co-Chair: KwaZulu-Natal Invasive Alien Species Programme

Tel:   021.441-2700     (International: +27.21.441-2700)
Fax: 021.441-2768     (International: +27.21.441-2768)
Cell: 083-325-8700     (International: +27.83-325-8700)
E-mail: gpreston@mweb.co.za
Private Bag X4390, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Web:   www.dwaf.gov.za/wfw/

Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government
Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme

From: "JV - MJV - Bataille, Gael" <gbataille@hatch.co.za>
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:05:17 +0200
To: <4_babich@fishingowl.co.za>
Subject: FW: Roodeplaat Dam - Hyacinths

Though it could be bad on the Vaal but check this dam out….

Webmasters Comment; this dam is so polluted with shit that the hyacinth is having a field day. The question is, is this the Governments idea of “greening the country for the world cup, or is this what is going to be used as cup football field”?

There is a thing called The Invasive Aliens Act and to contravene the act is A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Methinks the Government is above the law.

It all looks very pretty but what about all the diseases in the water. I am sure that In THE COUNTRIES CONSTITUTION

It promises a clean and healthy environment.

Maybe our dearly beloved Health Minister can come up with an idea from her veggie shop experience as to how we can avoid catching all the nasties in this water.

Maybe the Water Purification Authorities can give us an idea as to what it costs the taxpayer to purify this crap apart from excessive amounts with chlorine which in fact is actually a poison.

This situation has been going on in Roodeplaat for many years and the powers at be blatantly ignore it

From: Morne Viljoen [mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za] to Fishing Owl
Sent: 24 October 2006 09:59 AM
Subject: FW: Roodeplaat Dam - Hyacinths

I've forwarded the photos to Dr Guy Preston at Working for Water. See his response below.

Morné Viljoen
Natural Resources Law Department
BDZ Attorneys
(W) (011) 886-4628
(F) (011) 886-4452
(C) 083-395-3929

Good day Guy

Attached are some photos of the hyacinths at Roodeplaat dam. I was there 2 weeks ago and it was bad then, but now there is no water visible. In addition to the ecological impact, riparian owners are losing money. Something needs to be done urgently! Are you guys aware of the problem and is there a plan in place for Roodeplaat?

I've seen on the internet that hyacinths can be used for making paper, weaving mats and even making furniture. Maybe Working for Water/DWAF/DEAT could embark on a job creation programme using hyacinths?

I presume that there is no new news on the NEMBA Regs.

Regards

Morné Viljoen

-----Original Message-----
From: Preston Guy (CPT) [mailto:GPreston@dwaf.gov.za]
Sent: 24 October 2006 09:54 AM
To: Morne Viljoen

Subject: RE: Roodeplaat Dam - Hyacinths

Dear Morne

Thank you for this. We are aware of the problem, and Minister Lindiwe Hendricks has personally intervened in the matter. We are spraying at the moment. With the right funding (about R300,000), we could bring it back under control by the end of the year. However, water quality remains a big problem, and this exacerbates the effort to control the weed. It's growth is too vigorous for biological control agents to keep it under control under these circumstances.

Regrettably, there is no progress on the NEMBA Regulations.

Regards

Guy

Fishingowl response to Dr Guy Preston.

Fishing Owl supports the efforts of Working For Water albeit the fact that we are taking a far more hard line approach.

The growth of hyacinth in Roodeplaat is the result of negligence on the part of the authorities who have known of the consequences of the pollution of this dam for years.
To spray the dam with a selective herbicide is not the answer. The hyacinth ironically is doing the job that the authorities should have been doing years ago namely proper extraction of the nitrate and phosphate emanating from sewerage purification works.

We all know that rapid urbanisation for various reasons has overloaded the capacity of our sewerage purification works.

The Govt blames lack of funds to upgrade the sewerage works. This is complete nonsense. A perusal of various Govt bodies who have under spent their budgets as reported by the Auditor General are numerous.

Job Creation is of prime importance in this country is of prime importance.
The invasive hyacinth can be used in the settling ponds in sewerage works to extract the nitrate and phosphate.
The weed doubles its mass every 2 weeks and is ideal for making handmade paper.
To make handmade paper does not reply large amounts of capital and is labour intensive.
Handmade paper can find a ready and profitable market to make the project self sustaining.
SAPPI which has had the benefit of Govt protection for many years and has done untold damage (with very little job creation) is now the biggest paper producer in the world and 85% controlled by overseas shareholders (Global colonisation)
Should be “persuaded” to get involved in a project of this nature. Focal points could be where large numbers of previously disadvantaged and others have settled close to towns which has led to the inability of the purification works to cope with the additional load.
It is estimated that Cosato and its affiliates by insisting on Draconian labour laws have exacerbated the unemployment situation in the country and they should also do something to make amends for the problems they have caused to the economy.

Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government
Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme

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Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme

Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme

Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government
Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme

Expanded Public Works Programmes of Government
Aligned to the Global Invasive Species Programme