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The DA is calling on the Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, to compel the local ANC municipality in Mogalakwena and Lephalale to urgently address numerous issues relating to sewage leaks.

These leaks are affecting the local environment and putting the health and well-being of surrounding community members at serious risk.

During a two-day oversight inspection carried out by the DA we found numerous contraventions of environmental legislation, including instances where the municipality appears to be intentionally diverting raw sewage into open fields and rivers to avoid addressing the blockages and breakdowns in the existing sewage network.

In one instance we found a sewage station where an outlet pipe had been hung out a window, diverting the sewage into the adjacent field and creating a vile swamp.

See attached pictures here, here, here and here.

During the site visits we also found raw sewage running openly next to restaurants and medical practices with no sign of municipal intervention whatsoever. In many instances local residents are forced to attempt repairs to the network themselves, paying out of their own pockets due to a lack of assistance from the ANC-led municipality.

These issues have been raised on numerous occasions over many years by local DA public representatives but it appears that very little has been done and the situation is deteriorating fast. The raw sewage being released into open fields degrades the quality of groundwater, which puts boreholes and other water sources at risk. This could prove catastrophic for an already water scarce area, especially as the impacts of climate change increase.

We have laid a charge at the local police station against the municipal manager for contraventions of the National Environmental Management Act and the Water Act and hope that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will give this due consideration. We will also be writing to the Minister with detailed information relating to the issues so that she will have all the information at hand to assist in helping to address the ongoing contraventions.

Issued by Dave Bryant MP - DA Shadow Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries