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The DA welcomes Hoedspruit SAPS finally opening a criminal case against the Mopani District Municipality (MDM) because of the massive raw sewage spill that took place during September 2023 at the Raptors Wildlife Estate and the adjacent school. The Hoedspruit SAPS had initially refused to open the case.

I was informed of the case being opened and the name of the investigating officer on the 19th of October. The investigating officer indicated that he had already visited the offices of the MDM and has requested the municipality to arrange a meeting so that he can obtain the declarations from implicated officials.

The pollution is contrary to the provisions in the National Water Act (NWA) and the National Environmental Management Act. Officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) found that “The investigation further confirmed that the containment of raw sewer within the pump station for disposal at Drakensig Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) which trigger section 21(g) of NWA was commenced without authorisation”. It was therefore urgent to hold the municipality to account and enforce the applicable laws.

The rehabilitation of the environment must be done urgently by the municipality and the Home Owners Association of the Raptors Estate must receive compensation for the emergency rehabilitation. The emergency rehabilitation was done to prevent serious illness due to the raw sewage and to prevent further water, ground water and soil pollution.

In the meantime another spill took place at the main gate of the Hoedspruit Air Force Base which was so severe that the gate was closed for at least two weeks due to the bad smell. It is clear that sanitation infrastructure is collapsing due to mismanagement by MDM.

The DA will closely monitor developments around these sewage spills to ensure that maintenance and repairs are done to the system and there is rehabilitation of areas affected by raw sewage.

Issued by Marie Helm - DA Limpopo Deputy Leader