Environmental law action against Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
Severe sewer crisis leads to criminal charges and TCLM's day in court.
The municipal manager of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM), Sphiwe Matsi, appeared in the Lydenburg Circuit Court on Monday April 11.
Matsi is the accounting officer for the 11 cases of alleged violations of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) of 2008.
The investigation against TCLM is being led by inspectors of the Mpumalanga Environmental Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), also known as the Green and Blue Scorpions.
DA councillors had started opening criminal cases against TCLM in 2020 at the Lydenburg Police Station. The investigations were taken over by the Scorpions in 2021 for further investigation. The cases include the Extinction 2 sewage pool and other sewer spillages.
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On Friday April 8 the Scorpions released a report on their investigation. Sonja Boshoff, the DA member of parliament, said the report is welcomed by the DA and they trust that the necessary court procedures and justice will prevail.
“TCLM has in all probability transgressed every single regulation of NEMA. For the past eight years, there has been a severe sewer crisis in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality. The current wastewater treatment plant is dysfunctional and is discharging raw sewage into our freshwater reserves and onto our land. The above poses a serious health risk to the community and to those who use water from our rivers downstream. The residents of Extension 2, in Ward 14 have for the past 10 years been exposed to the most inhumane living conditions to which TCLM has continuously turned a blind eye. It is clear that the officials of TCLM have no idea how to run the municipality and there is no consequence management for those in charge of water and sanitation. Nobody is taking responsibility,” said Boshoff.
The case was postponed until Monday June 13. The TCLM and the DWS were unable to provide comment at the moment as the court case is still sub judice. This is a developing story, and Steelburger/Lydenburg News will keep its readers updated.
