VEREENIGING. – April Ntuli, the Municipal Manager (MM) of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Ntuli appeared on behalf of the ELM on five charges relating to serious environmental pollution and contraventions of the National Environmental Management Act and the National Water Act.

The case has been postponed to May 4 and the National Prosecuting Authority has indicated that additional charges may still be added.  The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) had conducted an investigation in 2018 when it discovered that the sewage system collapsed as a result of poor maintenance.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Gerda Senekal, FF Plus Councillor in the ELM said that their investigations revealed that untreated sewage flowed freely through streets, homes and a local cemetery before finally spilling into the Vaal River.

At the time, the Freedom Front Plus warned the ELM that this posed a serious health risk, but the warning was ignored.

“In May 2020, the Freedom Front Plus lodged a complaint with the Green Scorpions and also laid criminal charges against the then administrator and Ntuli, who succeeded him. The matter was also referred to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), which declared the pollution of the Vaal River a human rights violation,” Senekal said.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) compiled a charge sheet detailing the following:

1. Violation of the National Environmental Management Act: Between April 2018 and April 2024, several pump stations (16, 10, 8, 6, 5 and 38) unlawfully dumped sewage in the Vaal River
2. Violation of the National Water Act: The Rietvlei Water Treatment Plant discharged more than the permitted quantity of waste water between September 2018 and August 2019
3. During that same period, the Sebokeng Waste Water Treatment Plant failed to comply with the conditions of its water use licences
4. The Leeuwkuil Waste Water Treatment Works also did not comply with its license and unlawfully discharged waste water
5. Between April 2018 and 2024, severe pollution occurred as a result of negligence at the Leeuwkuil and Rietspruit plants as well as pump stations 16, 10, 8 and 5

“In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, this court case is a victory for community interests and clear proof that the party takes its oversight role seriously. The municipality should be held accountable for its lack of maintenance on critical infrastructure and for failing to protect the Vaal River against pollution,” Senekal said.

On behalf of the ELM, its spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni said, “ I can confirm the appearance but it was just brief and legal teams exchanged notes , documentations nothing more , we also request patience from the public and fourth estate as the matter is sub judicare and therefore (we) can only make public comments around it after the court has expressed itself or when we reach important milestones ,at this stage we cannot comment.”