In efforts to address water pollution and improve the quality of drinking water, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) continues to rely on the ‘Green Scorpions’ – an elite team comprised of members of the Environmental Management Inspectorate.
According to Siboniso Mkhaliphi, the Acting Chief Director of the DWS’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Unit, the Green Scorpions has the authority to investigate and arrest those responsible for so-called water crimes. Since 2014, the team has taken on almost 600 cases, most of which involve wastewater treatment works.
Mkhaliphi stated the primary source of water pollution stems from these treatment works as a result of sewage blockages, inefficient operations and a lack of maintenance, in addition to acid mine drainage primarily in provinces with many mining operations.
“[DWS] only resorts to legal action as a last resort, after numerous attempts to persuade and compel municipalities to correct their non-compliance,” he explained.
To date, 5 criminal cases have been opened with SAPS by DWS and the Green Scorpions. The teams have also issued 148 notices of intention to issue a directive, have issued 74 directives and have been granted 2 court interdicts.
Mkhaliphi said they were also monitoring approximately 240 out of 561 authorised mines for water use compliance, and are also dealing with 152 unauthorised mines primarily in the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are also working with SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to ensure that water-related crimes are given the attention they deserve in terms of urgency and penalties. A training program is also in the works to train SAPS and NPA officers on the National Water Act.”
Mkhaliphi added that DWS was collaborating with the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) to ensure wastewater treatment works are kept in a functional state. The department will also reinstate the Blue and Green Drop certification programs, in efforts to improve the quality of water supplied to residents.
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