The heavy rains during March caused an environmental disaster when millions of litres of acid mine drainage (AMD) started decanting from an old mine ventilation shaft on Johannesburg’s West Rand, flowing through Krugersdorp Game Park into the Crocodile river, from where it found its way into the Hartbeespoort dam and the Tweelopie creek.

The pollution from the ventilation shaft placed the spotlight firmly on South Africa’s water security problem, says trade union the United Association of South Africa (Uasa).

Since Uasa hosted a series of water security seminars in 2010, it has achieved two of its main objectives, namely sensitising the public to the severity of the country’s water situation and identifying people and organisations that could assist in compiling a plan to remedy the poor state of water security in the country.

Using its findings from water security seminars, Uasa lodged a successful application to the National Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) to embark on protest action in terms of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Acton about the state of water security in South Africa.

The research highlighted the devastating effects of AMD and other water-related problems, as well as the apparent delays by government in addressing the pending crisis.

“Our application to Nedlac highlighted the need for greater integration and cooperation between government departments to effectively address our water challenges,” says Uasa spokesperson Andre Venter.

The awareness created by the union helped spur government into action and Uasa says it is satisfied with the level of attention the problem is receiving from the Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, as well Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu.

Showcasing government’s commitment to mitigating AMD in South Africa, Molewa in March inserted AMD pumps at the Central basin pumpstation near Germiston in the Witwatersrand. These pumps will ensure the AMD will remain below the environmental critical level, as the construction of high-density sludge treatment plants will neutralise the AMD before it is discharged into the environment.
 
Shabangu also recently announced the consolidation of all mining licence requirements into one, shortening the period it takes to issue a mining licence, which will henceforth also include a water licence, to not more than 300 days from the date of application.

“Uasa’s water seminars and consequent Nedlac application called various experts to consider the water cause. Some of the current solutions to the problem may not be ideal, but at least the problem is no longer being ignored,” says Venter.

The union further states that it is regrettable that AMD spills occurred yet again, but this time it is owing to this year’s exceptional rainfall. Water pumping and treatment should normalise in the Western basin as soon as the rains come to an end, says the union.

About Uasa

Uasa is one of several unions affiliated to the Federation of Trade Unions of South Africa, which represents about 500 000 members at the macro level.

Uasa is registered at the Department of Labour as a trade union in accordance with the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995, as amended in 2002.

It is one of South Africa's oldest trade unions with a rich labour history dating back to 1894. The main objective of Uasa is to look after the interest of its members and to foster a spirit of unison among workers in general.

The organisation has been formed ‘by workers, for workers’, to represent their own rights and interests in the workplace and to improve working conditions and wages.  Uasa represents almost 73 000 working South Africans across the spectrum of job categories.

It also plays an important role in the international labour arena, joining hands with various international federations that promote global solidarity among workers of the world in their struggle against the negative effects of globalisation.