The Pietermaritzburg High Court judgement in favour of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on the Msunduzi land fill saga is a stark reminder of how government continues to fail in its responsibilities.

The ruling, handed down on Thursday last week, has criticised Msunduzi Municipality’s running of the New England Road landfill site, with an order that it prepare a detailed and comprehensive action plan, with measurable deadlines for progress to deal with the ongoing issues at the site.

While the City of Msunduzi and the province’s Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) Department have been given leeway to lodge management plans for this dump, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is saddened by the fact that it has been left to the Courts to enforce our Constitution.

The situation is also an indictment against both EDTEA and the City given that there were few improvements made at the site, even after an exhaustive and insightful oversight by EDTEA during the height of the dump fires.

This entire debacle is typical of the lack of bite EDTEA has in controlling environmental pollution that constantly plagues KZN. DA investigations into the province’s hotspots reveal that several key towns and cities are continuously affected by pollution.

Air pollution and noxious smells remain the top issues for residents in Salt Rock, Richard's Bay, Illembe, Newcastle and Msunduzi. This while the ENGEN refinery complaints also remain unresolved, again despite National and Provincial oversight inspections.

In the case of Msunduzi, a major petrochemical company has constantly been found to be the culprit - yet EDTEA has yet to act decisively to protect and preserve the human rights of residents who live in the region.

The South African Constitution is a living document enacted and supported by all political parties. It offers protection to citizens in all spheres of living. That courts now have to find against ANC municipalities, amplifies the reality that this government does not care about the rights of our citizens.

Real change, fit for purpose government and enforcement entities simply doing their jobs are within reach of each citizen. This change begins and ends at the ballot box.

Issued by DA