The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement that the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environment, Rural Development and Land Reform will this week lay a criminal charge against Sol Plaatje municipality for the institution’s failure to repair the Gogga Pump Station that has caused raw sewage to flow along the R31.

I am relieved that the DA’s latest complaint regarding the sewage in the veld alongside the R31, submitted to the Green Scorpions in April, has received attention from the necessary authorities. I have also completed an affidavit, which will be submitted along with the criminal charges that are expected to be opened this week.

The massive sewage dam already raised eyebrows in 2016, when it was just a pond and not visible from the road. It is a pity that it has taken six years to receive the necessary attention, but better late than never.

Already there has been a serious accident on the affected road, that saw a vehicle land up in a sewage dam. The sewage spill has not just affected the safety of road users but has also posed a threat to the health and safety of the people of Platfontein, who live next to the dam. The sewage is a further threat to the road infrastructure and could lead to the collapse of the provincial road that connects many towns to Kimberley, dealing a serious blow to the economy, if not urgently dealt with.

The DA hopes that a move towards more assertive action by Environment and the Green Scorpions, will set a new trend in terms of holding municipalities criminally accountable for their failures.

This is just one of many cases where people’s rights to decent living conditions are being violated because of a municipality’s failure to manage its sewerage system. Sol Plaatje should be the first in a long list of municipalities to be criminally charged.

Issued by DA