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The DA in the Dihlabeng Local Municipality is concerned over the massive amounts of raw untreated sewerage that is spilling out of the Paul Roux Waste Water Treatment Plant into the Sand River. It is estimated that over two million litres of raw untreated sewerage have been spilling out into the Sand River.

The plant came to a dead standstill over a month ago as a result of an electricity cable theft. This cable has not been repaired to date leaving the plant non-operational. The backup generator installed at the plant has been out of service for over 5 years.

Nearby farmers have already seen the hazardous result for the health of livestock as animals have fallen sick with diarrhoea resulting from drinking water out of the contaminated Sand River.

The Sand River is the main water supply for the town of Senekal as well as for farm communities further downstream of the Paul Roux Wastewater Treatment plant. We fear the negative impact the water pollution is having and will have on the lives and livelihoods of all affected communities who rely on the water out of the Sand River for their daily use.

The DA has written a formal letter to the Dihlabeng Municipal Manager, Busa Molatseli, the Executive Mayor, Tseki Tseki, the MMC for Public Works and the Paul Roux Unit Manager requesting urgent and immediate corrective measures to bring the sewerage pollution to a stop. We have also requested for water samples to be taken from the water of the Sand River, further downstream from the starting point of the pollution. We will continue monitoring the health and safety situation and ensure that all efforts are applied to reach a resolution.

Issued by Marius Marais - DA Councillor Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality