– Contractor seen discharging sewage into an open channel in Colesberg.
– DA calls for urgent action, accountability and answers.
– Vote to fix Umsobomvu’s sanitation system and get your town working for all.
The Democratic Alliance has lodged a complaint with the Municipal Manager of Umsobomvu Municipality, Mr Themsile Msengana, regarding the contamination of an open channel running through Colesberg by a municipal contractor. We are calling for urgent remedial action and accountability of the contractor.
The complaint follows an incident in which a municipal contractor, called out to attend to a blocked drain, was seen extracting sewage from a manhole and discharging it through a pipe into an open channel that flows through the town, less than 20 metres from the site.
This is particularly concerning given that in 2023, Umsobomvu Municipality was fined R10 million for the spilling of raw sewage in Noupoort. The fine was suspended for five years on condition that the municipality is not convicted of further offences under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and complies with conditions aimed at preventing further sewage pollution. These conditions include ensuring that wastewater is effectively managed and that sewage pollution is properly cleaned up.
If Umsobomvu Municipality wants to avoid further legal action, it must demonstrate that it takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and any disregard of environmental laws by a contractor acting on behalf of the municipality, must be investigated and addressed with appropriate action.
We also want to know how much the municipality paid the contractor for the work in question and what measures Umsobomvu Municipality is taking to recoup funds and ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.
Umsobomvu Municipality has a responsibility to manage waste and wastewater in a manner that does not endanger public health or the environment. Protecting Colesberg’s natural environment is also essential to preserving the town’s attractiveness for tourism, investment and job creation.
On 4 November, residents have an opportunity to vote DA, fix Umsobomvu’s sanitation system and get the municipality working for all.