by Reinette Liebenberg, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development and Nature Conservation ![]() Date: 27 August 2020Release: Immediate Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite in English & Afrikaans from Reinette Liebenberg, MPL. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is deeply concerned about the obvious lack of management of sewage within the Sol Plaatje municipality that continues to pose serious threats to the environment and the health of residents in and around Kimberley and will again lodge a complaint with the Green Scorpions.This comes after the DA received reports of another sewage overflow in Greenpoint (see pictures here, here and here). Sewage is seen flowing into a freshwater pan in Du Toits Pan, risking contamination of the water source and also the spread of serious illnesses.Businesses and residents are concerned about the raw sewage spills right on their doorsteps but they are continuously met with disregard by Sol Plaatje municipality, who seems not to care about the wellbeing and possible risks of residents and businesses.The DA is disturbed by the lack of transparency and will of this municipality to respond to pleas from residents and businesses, for assistance in dealing with the sewage overflow.Even the Department of Water Affairs experienced closed doors in dealing with the municipality, when compliance letters are ignored and meetings that have been set up to discuss the contamination of freshwater by the sewage, are postponed.This is not the first time the municipality has failed to react to an issue of environmental pollution reported to them and caused by them. In June this year, the DA called on the Green Scorpions to investigate the raw sewage spills in Galeshewe, Barkley Road and Platfontein.It was already brought to the attention of the municipality that all sewerage stations within Sol Plaatje municipality are not in full working condition and that the infrastructure, which already received over R 450 million worth of maintenance upgrades, had gone to waste.It appears that Sol Plaatje will only act once they are dragged to court for their inability to properly manage municipal bulk infrastructure.It is high time that government starts to tighten their grip on this poorly performing municipality and holds senior managers accountable for any legal action and financial implications that this municipality finds itself in. Otherwise, the arrogance of Sol Plaatje municipality will land them in smelly water and they could face legal action due to non-compliance of the National Water Act, as well as the National Environmental Act. Media Enquiries Reinette Liebenberg, MPLDA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development and Nature Conservation071 7332 640 Chrystal FrancisResearcher079 2260 991 |
