Phalaborwa sewage crisis prompts Auditor General intervention

PHALABORWA – Persistent failures in sewage maintenance and repeated spillages have prompted Let’s Change Ba-Phalaborwa (LCBP) to call on the national Auditor General of Environmental Affairs to intervene.

A representative from the Auditor General’s office visited the town to see firsthand the challenges residents face. The inspection included several problem sites, among them three sewage pump stations that are still malfunctioning despite recent refurbishments. The main sewer in Phalaborwa is also operating far below capacity, with sewage drying up inside the system instead of flowing as intended.

The team toured nearby communities, including Lulekani, Namakgale, and Makhushane, where they found overflowing manholes and households that have endured sewage problems for years. One family was even forced to relocate because of the unbearable stench.

According to previous Herald reports, the root cause lies in the town’s ageing and dilapidated wastewater infrastructure. Much of the sewage ends up flowing into local streams that feed into the Tutsi River in the Kruger National Park, then the Selati River, eventually joining the Olifants River and reaching Massingir Dam in Mozambique.

Last year, several residents fell ill after drinking contaminated water. The source was traced to a damaged manhole at the corner of Park and Hans Pirow streets, which had allowed raw sewage to seep into the municipal water supply.

LCBP, a community-based organisation advocating for improved municipal governance, has long been vocal about the crisis. Vice-chairperson Trevor van Rooyen told the Herald their goal is to hold both the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality and Mopani District Municipality (MDM) accountable. “Our job is to fight for service delivery and apply pressure so that the municipality works according to its mandate.

We have spoken out for years with no result. Hopefully, through the Auditor General’s involvement, things will change,” he said. Last year, MDM spokesperson Odas Ngobeni said plans were in place to refurbish the sewage system using the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), but this never materialised. However, in his recent State of the District Address, MDM Mayor Pule Shayi announced budget allocations of R9 million for the Lulekani water treatment works, R8 million for Namakgale, and another R8 million for Phalaborwa town.

Shayi acknowledged the district’s ageing infrastructure but said the biggest challenges are water theft and vandalism. He noted that peace officers, now working alongside the police, are targeting those responsible. He urged communities to report any acts of vandalism against water pipes and pump stations.