The South African Cabinet is expected to give a directive on action in response to acid mine spillage from Gauteng. Unexpected flooding has raised the levels of the toxic water in the province's mines, overwhelming the pumps designed to remove hazardous water out from underground. Mine foreman Derrick Souden said that the pumping should be four times its current rate, and that gold in mines will shortly be unreachable when the pumps themselves become flooded. Pollution has reached a critical point, the union United Association of South Africa said, as the acid water has reached the Cradle of Humankind from the West Rand, a World Heritage site. The Department of Environmental Affairs has set aside R218 million to fit pumps. In addition to threats of acid mine spillage, farmers face the threat of crops contaminated by waterborne pathogens from flooding from sewage plants, 80 percent of which are estimated to be overloaded and 40 percent of which are estimated to be on the brink of collapse. For the story on acid mine spillage, see http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article856813.ece/Rains-bring-acid-mine-spillage-closer. For the story on waters reaching Cradle of Humankind, see http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Decisive-action-imperative-for-Cradle-20110114. For the government's response, see http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13153:decision-on-toxic-mine-drainage-in-sight&catid=52:Human%20Security&Itemid=114.