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A lot of the affluent is not caused by the mines at all, it is also caused by communities living next to the river. A few years ago on the crocodile thread, I was along with some peeps testing the water coming out of the mine, and it was cleaner than the actual river water.
Since then things have changed, I have photo proof of the slimes dam breaking a wall last year March.
This was a very corrosive substance that was flowing into nature.

Also, keep in mind there are smaller mines at Mica, and other place on the river that seems to be overlooked by the authorities.

Sorry, it was 15 April 2011, and just above the Selati River, that flows into the olifants in the immidiate region.





It was a goo full of Mica, probably about a trillion other chemicals, that actually irritated the skin on touch.

I'm just wondering... how many of those extra birds are hunting in the Olifants at the moment only because there are so little water further north?
Is it really only because the water is supposedly cleaner after the floods, or have the bird numbers increased because at least there is water...

(I'm fairly sure I saw and heard much fewer fish eagles than usual along the Shingwedzi in June...)

O, and note to mother nature... may the far north get the rain this year please...

I hope something will be done with a long term view (by those responsible) to keep the life sustaining rivers and water healthy in SA, including the Olifants River.



I am with you on this one Dabchick

I wonder what the long term forecast for Kruger is regarding possible rainfall?

Then we need more regular floods!

In the end the long-term health of the whole Lowveld ecosystem including Kruger will depend on how the main rivers running through the area are managed and protected.
South Africa have some of the best water acts/laws in the world but the issue comes in with the implementation of these laws...

My hope is that one day our government will realise how vital healthy rivers are to the future of our country and that competent and passionate people will be appointed to enforce these laws.
At the moment the situation doesn't look so positive however... I guess it is also up to us normal citizens to help create awareness about these issues and also to be public watch dogs on this matter.

Just think if we can have a strong flowing Letaba river all year round again!
Cleaner and stronger flowing rivers will also have many positive spin-offs in Kruger that we don't always think about.
For instance, even more man-made waterholes could be closed which will help restore more natural animal distribution patterns and help re-awaken age-old migration routes.

Of course there are initiatives such as the Kruger to Canyon movement which specifically focus on the catchments of the Olifants and other low veld rivers.
I would be very interested to hear from some forumites that are involved in this, on how that initiative is going?