The DA has written to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) calling for an investigation into the management of waste water in the Lekwa Municipality.
This is after they visited Rooikoppen where they allegedly discovered that the municipality was actively channeling raw sewage through the streets into the Vaal River.
According to the DA, residents have been living with streams of raw sewage flowing past their homes for more than five years.
“In one instance we found the sewage pouring from a pipe located in a yard and past the entrance of a day-care centre, meaning children have to jump over sewage to get to school,” the DA said.
According to them, numerous lobby groups and individuals have over the years pressed charges against the municipality for contravening
section 151(1)(1) (j) of the National Water Act that states that no person may;
(i) Unlawfully and intentionally or negligently commit any act or omission which pollutes or is likely to pollute a water resource;
(j) Unlawfully and intentionally or negligently commit any act or omission which detrimentally affects or is likely to affect a water resource.
AfriForum opened a case two years ago against Mr Linda Tshabalala, Lekwa municipal manager, for the pollution of the Vaal River.
They took a water sample to be tested by the South African National Accreditation System (Sanas) accredited laboratory, which indicated that the effluent running from the municipal infrastructure into the natural water resources has highly toxic E.coli levels of more than 1 000 000 per 100ml of water.
According to Mr Hillel Coetzer of AfriForum, the case is still pending. Mr Coetzer said he has recently written a letter to the Department of Water Affairs about this matter and is awaiting a response.
“Despite this, the municipality has yet to find a lasting solution to its sewage woes and has in the meantime left the community to live in inhumane conditions,” the DA said.
The DA called on the SAHRC to investigate the matter and make a finding in this regard.
They said there should be no community in South Africa today that is living in sewage simply because municipalities continuously fail to ensure a healthy and safe environment for its people.
The municipality admitted that they are aware of the current situation.
According to them, the sewage spill is caused due to the challenges within the sewer network in Rooikoppen.
“The municipality has engaged with the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene to resolve the challenge permanently,” Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, Lekwa communications manager, said.
She also said a contractor was appointed last year in November and has assisted in refurbishing the sewer pump stations around the Standerton and Sakhile areas.
According to her, work has also commenced in rectification of the sewer network, but temporarily suspended due to inadequate funding.
“The municipality has engaged the provincial and national government to assist with funding to rectify the problems of the network,” Ms Mtshiselwa said.
