The civil rights organisation AfriForum on 26 February 2018 submitted criminal charges against Ombali Pheneas Sebola, Municipal Manager of the Lim 368 Local Municipality in Nylstroom, due to the poor management of sewage works and the pollution of water sources.
This follows after various complaints were received from within the community about sewage running down the streets, manholes overflowing and bloody water from an abattoir flowing into streets, wetlands and streams. This application was submitted in terms of Section 151 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998), which states that any person who intentionally pollutes water and water sources must be held accountable for their actions.
“The municipality is constitutionally bound to protect water sources, but this is definitely not the case here,” says Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Limpopo.
Grobbelaar further adds that the problem is caused by poor municipal management and maintenance, and that parties guilty of the pollution must be held accountable.
“The municipality receives residents’ tax money to maintain and upgrade sewage works and to see to it that sewage does not pollute the environment. Funds must be applied to prevent incidents such as this. The municipality failed to fulfil its duties and therefore it is our responsibility as a community to bring the municipality to book,” Grobbelaar concludes.
AfriForum will further follow up on the case with the police to ensure that the problem is resolved.