After very careful consideration, and unjustified frustration that was brought about by the total lack of effort and enterprise by the Mopani District Municipality (MDM), in any sort of attempt at solving the dire sewage problem in Hoedspruit, the DA finally laid criminal charges against the MDM at the Hoedspruit SAPS.
The charges (related to possible criminal offences) were levelled at certain members of the MDM for their disregard of provisions within the legislation of the National Water Act, the Water Services Act, and the National Environmental Management Act.
Those implicated were: the Municipal Manager Mr Tshepo Mogano, the Senior Manager Technical Services Mr Ludic Mahayi, the Chief Financial Officer Ms Sibongile Mathebula, and the Senior Manager Water and Sanitation Mr Paradise Shilowa.
This saga goes back to the sewage spillage (as previously reported in Kruger2Canyon News) from the Leguan Street pump station that spilled at least, if not more, than 15 million litres of sewage into Raptors View Wildlife Estate. This affected the wetlands, dams, and streams – not to mention the wildlife, residents and the scholars at Southern Cross School, and posed the serious prospect of pathogen contamination. The municipality was made aware of this particular (ongoing) incident on or about the 9th September 2023, and failed to make and attempt at rectifying the problem until the 21st September 2023.
The MDM has known about the numerous problems faced by Hoedspruit and its sewage for many years, but have failed or quite simply ignored, trying to find and adequate, long-term solution to the problem. Let it be said that Maruleng Local Municipality (MLM) have also been made aware of these issues on an ongoing basis for a very long time. In fact they were advised earlier this year of this particular problem by the Hoedspruit Chamber, and the matter was also raised with the municipal Director of Technical Services, Mr Lesley Morua . However, the default answer from the municipality is that “the problem has been reported, and feedback will be given”. This has never happened, and continual attempts at calling the relevant persons are ignored.
This recent spill resulted in a serious health and environmental crisis, and it was effectively the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’, which has resulted in the above charges being laid.
The charge sheet was supported by an in-depth report on the analysis of water samples taken by the ENDIP Wildlife Laboratory, in Phalaborwa, and signed off by Dr C Vermaak.
However, despite numerous attempts to open a case against MDM, the Hoedspruit SAPS were reluctant to do so.
The DA did not rest on its laurels and persisted by then reporting Hoedspruit SAPS to the Limpopo Service Complaint Centre, for refusing to open a case against the MDM over the sewage spill.
The DA asked the Limpopo Service Complaint Centre, to investigate and provide reasons for the refusal by Hoedspruit SAPS to open a criminal case against the MDM. This was brought about in light of the fact that on the 28th of September the Hoedspruit SAPS claimed that they could not open a case because the affidavit did not contain any offence, despite the document including references to the applicable sections in the various laws. Then on the 29th of September SAPS were again presented with the affidavit accompanied by sections of the National Water Act as well as the National Environmental Management Act, that state quite clearly that raw sewage pollution is a criminal offense – Hoedspruit SAPS still refused to open a criminal case.
The SAPS in Hoedspruit persisted in their refusal without providing valid reasons, and eventually, and reluctantly, said that they would open “an enquiry” but would not open a criminal case, stating that they didn’t have the “code” needed for the “system” to produce a case number!
It is every communities right to deserve optimal service delivery from the SAPS and they must accept all valid criminal complaints and investigate them in a transparent and fair manner.
Thankfully the DA continued to exert pressure on Hoedspruit SAPS.
Finally on the 19th October, 2023, the DA was informed that a case was in fact being opened and was also advised of the name of the investigating officer. The investigating officer indicated that he had already visited the offices of the MDM and had requested the municipality to arrange a meeting so that he could obtain the declarations from implicated officials.
Officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) found that “The investigation further confirmed that the containment of raw sewage within the pump station for disposal at Drakensig Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) which trigger section 21(g) of NWA, was commenced without authorisation”. It was therefore urgent to hold the municipality to account and enforce the applicable laws.
The rehabilitation of the environment must be done urgently by the municipality, and the Home Owners Association of the Raptors View Wildlife Estate should receive compensation for the emergency rehabilitation that they initiated on the estate. The emergency rehabilitation was done to prevent serious illness due to the raw sewage spillage, and to prevent further water, ground water and soil pollution.
In the meantime, another spill took place at the main gate of the Hoedspruit Air Force Base, which was so severe that the gate was closed for at least two weeks due to the shocking odour. The sanitation infrastructure within Hoedspruit is collapsing, primarily due to the total mismanagement, or lack of management by MDM, on a system that is vulnerable and inadequate.
Thankfully the DA will closely monitor developments around these sewage works to ensure that maintenance and repairs are done to the system and that there is rehabilitation of areas affected by the raw sewage.
Any queries, comments and the like can be directed to the DA Limpopo Deputy Leader Marie Helm on 082 683 2835, or the researcher, Moses Mariga on 076 821 9745.
