The Democratic Alliance (DA) reported the ongoing contamination of an Upington canal to the Green Scorpions for urgent action against the Dawid Kruiper municipality.
This comes after I yesterday accompanied a local resident to lay criminal charges against the municipality for failing to address overflowing drains that repeatedly cause sewage to spill into the canal in Steenbok Avenue. The canal stretches from the suburbs in the Rand area into rural farmland, posing a grave threat to those who make use of it, and for their crops and livestock. Not only does this water spill into the canal, but also directly into the river.
For over two years, DA councillors have repeatedly taken this matter up with the municipality. Last year, the DA lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). To date, the lack of infrastructure management and ad hoc repair work has failed to see this ongoing matter resolved.
The sewage spill has a devastating impact on peoples’ lives and livelihoods. In some areas, sewage is lying between 800 and 900 millimeters deep. The sewage can be found just 20 meters from the nearest residence. Guesthouses in the vicinity continue to lose clients due to the stench.
The situation underscores the fact that sewerage pollution, as well as the poor state of sewage infrastructure and management in the Northern Cape, is dire and is getting worse. This was further evident in the 2023 Green Drop report that placed the Northern Cape as second on the list for having the highest percentage of Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in a critical state.
While Dawid Kruiper conceded that it required more advanced machinery, it committed to being on site to address the sewage spill by 4pm today. This is already three weeks overdue. It is a pity that we have to go to such extreme measures to get municipalities to do their work.
Dawid Kruiper is failing residents, as are the many other municipalities that fail to give attention to the underlying causes of sewage spills. CoGHTSA and the Department of Environment, are also failing in holding municipalities accountable for effective wastewater management.
The only way to get the province’s green drop status out of the red, is to vote for the blue. The DA encourages residents who have still not registered to vote, to do so before the proclamation of the election date. Under a DA-led provincial government, we will ensure that departments act decisively against any institution found to be contravening sanitation and water regulations.