Public health at risk: Portfolio Committee investigates Mogale’s waste and pollution crisis

From landfill to sewerage crises, Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) has an abundance of municipal issues concerning residents and the environment which gained the attention of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development (EARD) and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD).

On November 2, EARD and GDARD officials addressed MCLM on numerous issues, including the Luipaardsvlei Landfill site, the Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works, Flip Human Waste Water Treatment Works, Dr Sefularu illegal RDP housing project and Brickvale Village.

The Luipaardsvlei Landfill site

Chairperson of the EARD Portfolio Committee, Jaco Mulder, said the site was declared full in 2017, leading to a fire incident reportedly ignited by illegal miners after an altercation with recyclers.

“Following a site inspection by the Departmental Environmental Management inspectors, a verbal order was issued to close the site, which was later formalised,” Mulder stated.

The committee has expressed concern over the municipality’s slow response to these orders and commends the GDARD for initiating criminal action due to the recurring nature of these fire incidents, urging law enforcement to hold responsible parties accountable.

Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works

Mulder addressed that alarming reports indicate that untreated sewage is being discharged from the Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works into the Riet River, subsequently flowing into the Bloubank Spruit. A report by African Potential Partnership revealed tuberculosis organisms and high levels of heavy metal levels in the discharged water, posing significant risks to public health and food security through potential contamination of crops and livestock.

“Criminal charges have been filed against MCLM for its failure to adequately treat sewage before discharging sewage into waterways,” Mulder said.

Brickvale Village

Mulder explained routine inspections at Brickvale Village have led to compliance notices regarding illegal waste disposal in a quarry.

“A follow-up inspection revealed ongoing issues, prompting MCLM to request an extension to submit a rehabilitation plan, which was granted. Currently, about 505 out of 6 000 planned houses have been built and occupied. GDARD issued a Section 28 Directive to ensure compliance with waste management regulations, and the committee calls for urgent technical assistance from GDARD to assist the MCLM to address environmental compliance in the development,” he stated.

Dr Sefularu Township

Mulder acknowledged concerns that have emerged regarding new sewer treatment works planned in Dr Sefularo Township, with overflow sewage potentially being directed into a bordering river just five metres away.

“This proximity poses significant environmental risks for local farmers who rely on this water for drinking and irrigation. The committee urges GDARD to adopt a multipronged approach to ensure that planned sewer treatments are not situated near the river as this would have adverse effects on residents along the river,” he urged.

Flip Human Waste Water Treatment Works

Mulder explains that Flip Human is currently not performing, with about 34 megalitres of untreated sewage released daily into a nearby watercourse.

“An order has been issued to MCLM to address these failures, highlighting the municipality’s breach of its duty of care towards the environment. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has issued multiple notices and orders to MCLM under the National Water Act, but these have been ignored, leading to criminal charges against the municipality for sewage pollution. The portfolio committee will monitor the case to ensure municipal officials are held accountable,” he assured.

“While the committee acknowledges challenges such as vandalism, budget constraints, poor technical capacity, and inadequate workmanship at MCLM wastewater treatment facilities, it expresses grave concern over the severe risks posed by pollution to public health, agriculture, economic activity, and the environment. The committee has called on GDARD to respond to the environmental crisis through a comprehensive approach, including engagement with higher education institutions to enhance technical solutions, high-level intervention with the DWS and Treasury for funding availability and strengthen technical capacity,” he added.

He concluded that the rehabilitation of the Bloubank Spruit and other tributaries is vital for protecting aquatic species, human health, and economic activities in MCLM and along the Cradle of Humankind, a Unesco World Heritage Site. However, the portfolio committee applauds MCLM for initiating stakeholder engagement sessions with the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site Association and key governmental bodies to address the pollution crisis and outline future actions.

A Memorandum of Agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater has been facilitated to support the treatment works as part of a Corporate Social Investment initiative. However, the portfolio committee warns businesses prioritising profit over environmental responsibility that such behaviour is unacceptable and will lead to criminal charges and heavy fines for polluting the province’s rivers.

The News reached out to MCLM about the portfolio committee’s findings and requested comment on the matter. However, none was forthcoming but will be published once received.