DA lays charge against two municipal managers for pollution
The DA today will today open criminal charges against the municipal managers of the Vhembe District Municipality, Emmanuel Maluleke and Makhado Municipality, Isaac Mutshinyali respectively for failing to comply with the provisions of the National Water Act.
LIMPOPO – The DA today will today open criminal charges against the municipal managers of the Vhembe District Municipality, Emmanuel Maluleke and Makhado Municipality, Isaac Mutshinyali respectively for failing to comply with the provisions of the National Water Act.
The National Water Act (No 36 of 1998), Section 151(1) (i) and (j) and 151(2) including section 24 of the Constitution seeks to protect the environment states Jacques Smalle (MPL) DA spokesperson in a media statement on Wednesday.
The Act includes, but is not limited to, the effective management and treatment of sewerage and waste water, and the protection of fresh water resources.
Smalle explains: “The duo neglected the pollution of the environment by failing to repair sewerage system within Makhado municipality for eight years.”
“The Vhembe District Municipality failed dismally to allocate efficient financial resources to Makhado municipality to repair and maintain the waste water treatment network within the municipality.”
According to Smalle both municipalities deliberately ignored the DA’s calls to fix the sewerage.
“The pollution now poses harm to the environment and a massive health risk to the local businesses and residents of Louis Trichardt living adjacent to where the sewerage is overflowing.”
“Local businesses , a pumping station, an abattoir , farms as well as schools and clinics are badly being affected.”
Smalle further states “in some areas, the sewerage is coming out of bathrooms and toilets in the residential areas which causes an unpleasant smell in their houses.”
“The sewerage is also flowing down the streets in the industrial area towards the railway lines. This has caused a significant environmental pollution while the municipality is failing to take reasonable measures to prevent environmental harm.
The DA is also concerned about the possibility of the underground water that might also be contaminated, putting the lives of the residents using boreholes at risk.
The DA will further write to the MEC for economic development, environment and tourism, Seaparo Sekoati to dispatch officials to probe this environment pollution and ensure any other officials implicated are held accountable.
The DA hopes for a speedy investigation on Maluleke and Mutshinyali and a hand-over for prosecution without delay.
