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On 13 September 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation opened a criminal case against Nketoana Local Municipality at Lindley police station for contravention of Section 19 (1) of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998.

The case was opened against the Municipal Manager for failing to prevent consistent pollution of water resources, adversely affect the quality of water.

The Department of Water and Sanitation issued notices and directives to Nkentoana Local Municipality to prevent the raw sewage that flows from a non-functioning Pump Station into Vals River.

During a follow up site inspection conducted in November 2020 it was observed that the Lindley Waste Water Treatment Works is non-operational and vandalized. It was further observed that the Pump Station meant to pump wastewater to the Waste Water Treatment Works where the sewage water would be treated before it is released back into the stream has not been working.

During a recent site inspection conducted in August 2023 it was observed that Pump Stations 1 and 2 were also overflowing. The Municipal official reported that Pump Station 2 was overflowing due to a scheduled ESKOM maintenance and Pump Station 1 needed a pump motor replacement. Pump Station 2 also overflows during load shedding.

As a regulator of the water and sanitation sector, the Department had issued the municipality with a notice of intention to issue a directive on 11 April 2019 after failure to comply a directive was issue on 02 December 2020. The Department has given Nketoane Local Municipality multiple opportunities to curb the pollution of the water source and consequently the case was opened.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation