AfriForum spokesman charged with trespassing
No one is allowed inside the plant without permission, says Ugu.
CHRIS Fourie, AfriForum spokesman, was charged by Ugu municipality with trespassing in one of the municipality’s sewage treatment plants.
According to Mr Fourie, there had been reports from the community that raw sewage was being spilled into the ocean.
Mr Fourie said he voiced his concerns about the sewage plant in an audit conducted in July 2014 and, as the municipality did not respond, he decided to do his own investigation.
“When I visited the plant the gate was open and the security guard was inside his booth. I entered the plant after waiting for some time to be attended to by the guard,” said Mr Fourie.
He only came to me when I was taking photos of the plant, and requested that I complete the visitors’ register.
“At no stage did he inform me that I was trespassing and that I had to leave the premises,” he added.
Mr Fourie believes that the reason the municipality has charged him with trespassing is that it is trying to hide the spillage from the public eye.
Ugu spokesman Sipho Khuzwayo has confirmed that Mr Fourie was charged with trespassing.
“Whoever wants to enter has to get permission from the Ugu municipal manager or the area manager of that particular plant,” explained Mr Khuzwayo.
He added that to get permission to enter the Ugu plant one had to have a valid reason. “No member of the public is allowed inside the plant without an Ugu official,” he concluded.
