The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga laid criminal charges against Chief Albert Luthuli local municipality in Carolina for polluting streams that local residents are dependent on for water.
The municipality has left raw sewerage to flow into the very streams that residents of Silobela and Carolina town are using for drinking water.
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This is in violation of section 151 of the National Water Act and gross negligence and pollution of our natural resources. Section 151(2) of the Act say: Any person who contravenes any provision of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable, on the first conviction, to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
The DA has written to the director General of Water and Sanitation requesting immediate intervention and will enquire from the ministry whether a directive has been issued to the municipality.
If so we will add an additional (sub section (d) to the existing charge which indicates the municipality’s failure to comply to a previous directive issued).
The municipality has been in the limelight for poor water quantity and quality related issues. Residents have been subjected to contaminated water coming through their taps and have reported that the odour in the water is evident of raw sewerage.
On inspection, the DA found four areas where the sewerage has been flowing for extended periods of time. On questioning, the municipality indicated that there are no real threats as the water is treated for human consumption.
One of the municipality’s sewerage pump stations lies within a river course and just flows into a storage dam on the Western side of the town.
The DA urges the communities of Carolina and Silobela to vote right on August 3 for change that will stop corruption, create jobs and deliver better services for all.
A DA led municipality will be accountable and make sure that the community’s health and welfare comes first.
