Toxic crops

North West farmers warn of toxic crops

Rene Potgieter and her father Paul warn that people in the North West province could be eating toxic vegetables, caused by acid mine drainage.

LIVHUWANI MAMMBURU

Farmers Rene Potgieter and her father Paul have warned South Africans that vegetables from areas affected by acid mine drainage could be toxic.

The Potgieters’ farm is situated in the Gerhard Minnebronne at Potchestroom in the North West province, which lies within the Wondersfonteinspruit Catchment area. The water from the Gerhard Minnebronne reaches the Boskop Dam, Potchestroom’s main reservoir.

Rene Potgieter said she had received death threats from the farmers around the area because she spoke out against farmers who sell toxic vegetables and fruits to the public.

"A lot of farmers contract their crops out ahead of the actual production to numerous organizations and companies. The farmers do not want publicity about their crops being toxic because the companies will cancel their products as there is a potential risk for human consumption. The companies in return cannot purchase crops from the particular farmers and put them in the mainstream market. The farmers would rather keep quiet to protect their crops," they said.

The Potgieters were peach and mushroom farmers and had to stop farming in December 2002 when creeping toxicity hit them.

Rene Potgieter said: "Our situation is not unique. It is played out in all the areas that are affected by acid mine drainage in South Africa. We are a water business with good intentions, then suddenly productivity started declining. Our peaches were not suitable for human consumption. They had high levels of uranium. It was a logical conclusion to stop farming.

"It all comes down to increase in salt loads. The increase in salt load, if you trace them back, is a result of mining activities in the area. The adverse economic situation is a result of pollution dumped by the mining companies. Farmers are fighting for their lives to save their farms," she said.

Paul Potgieter concurred with his daughter, saying the water quality in the area is so poor that normal farming had been stopped. He said cattle are not allowed to drink from the normal river.

Paul said farming in the area is now impossible. "We have reached a stage where we realize that we need to take action against the polluter," he warned.

He said that they had instituted a claim against the mining companies that are responsible for polluting the area.

"This is a Goliath and David situation. It is hellishly expensive. The mining companies do not want our case to go to court. We have spent R5m in legal fees and every time we go to court, it gets expensive. The government have lost control and we are forced to take a legal route," he warned