Ministers charged for water pollution

[Mila]

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20100507122411342C436952

Criminal charges over the pollution of the country's water supply were laid against three Cabinet ministers at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria on Friday.

After laying the charges, TauSA chairman Louis Meintjes said the organisation had been forced to approach the police after Minister of Agriculture Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Mining Minister Susan Shabangu and Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, had repeatedly failed to address the problem.

"We want them to act and get the water clean... a snowball that gets too big is a runaway snowball," he said.

Meintjes said mines which used seven percent of the country's water supply were responsible for 75 percent of water pollution.

He said Sonjica should have acted in line with the National Water Act and that Shabangu should have known that mining, water supply and food security were directly linked.

He said the act provided that it was criminal for ministers to knowingly or unintentionally allow for natural resources to be jeopardised.

"If it's not the ministers, who is responsible?" - Sapa

 

[marine1]

Well done although nothing will come of this

 

[Moederloos]

I lolled so hard when I heard this on 702.
WAY TO GO!

 

[Mila]

Well done although nothing will come of this

THat is the sad part

 

[Lycanthrope]

Nice one!

Is there a means of somehow donating so that should this hit court it will hopefully be seen through to the end?

I think a number of people are more than willing to help fund lawyers or court cases or donate their services or whatever else is possible to see our beloved country head in the right direction.

More people who stand up against corruption, the better!

 

[Mila]

I just takes time but if the law is there to support it we have hope.

 

[grayston]

THat is the sad part

Guess according to marine1 we should just give up and carry on posting snide comments on forums. How apathetic.

Back on topic - this is awesome news; I just wish that a more representative group of South Africans could have laid the charges.