Note to editors: Please find soundbite by Levael Davis
The DA demands the Knysna Municipality to immediately release the latest estuary report. This critical report is overdue by more than a week, and residents deserve transparency about our most precious asset.
Under this ANC-led coalition, the estuary, the only natural estuarine bay in Africa, has suffered major decline through raw sewage, failing pumps, and polluted waterways.
The persistent degradation of the estuary directly jeopardises Knysna’s local tourism economy, small business livelihoods, and irreplaceable aquatic ecosystems.
While residents wait for answers from the municipality, the DA is ready with a clear plan to restore and protect the estuary.
We will implement two aspect our Five-Ps pledge to fix and protect our estuary.
Under our Pollution pledge, we will declare a zero-discharge policy for the estuary, with monthly water-quality test results published.
We will execute the Pump Station Rehabilitation Programme as the primary anti-pollution intervention, and we will partner with SANParks, the Breede-Olifants CMA, and the Western Cape Government to deliver measurable estuary recovery within two years.
Under our Pipes and Pumps pledge, we will commission an independent pipe condition assessment within 90 days and publish a costed five-year Pipe Replacement and Rehabilitation Plan.
We will also establish a rapid response team with a two-hour maximum response to major bursts.
We will audit all pump stations within 30 days and publish the results. We will rehabilitate or replace all non-functional sewage pump stations within 18 months. Additionally, we will introduce 24/7 SCADA-linked pump monitoring and rapid response.
On 4 November, residents hold the power to choose the DA. We are a party that prioritises service delivery over ‘me-first’ politics. Residents certainly deserve better.