Owing to the sewage crisis affecting the Mangaung metropolitan municipality in the Free State, the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) to investigate 130 leaks it has identified, following daily complaints of overflowing toilets and sewers from residents. 

The DA believes that the Mangaung municipality has failed residents with its apparent unwillingness to assist and maintain the sewer lines in the city. 

DA Mangaung councillors Selme Pretorius and Rossouw Botes assert that “the municipality is responsible for maintaining sewer lines, but it has been doing so with no results.”

Financial constraints constitute the reasons given by the municipality as to why infrastructure that is so critical to the city cannot be replaced.

“National Treasury approved R70-million from the service delivery grant for refurbishment/maintenance of sewerage and wastewater infrastructure in Mangaung,” the DA councillors said. 

The party has concerns over the municipality’s management of its budget.

The DA is urging the SAHRC to take action to curtail a public health crisis which could have a debilitating effect on public facilities such as schools, nursing homes and restaurants.

In efforts to demonstrate its commitment towards change, the DA has urged all residents to register to vote in the 2024 national and provincial government elections.