Water pollution - a ticking time bomb?

MOKOPANE - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid a criminal charge last week against the acting municipal manager of the Mogalakwena Municipality last week for deliberately contravening the National Water Act as well as the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

Puledi Selepe, the acting municipal manager for the Mogalakwena Municipal at the time, faced a criminal investigation after violating the National Water Act 36 of 1998 sections 151 (1) (i) and (2), the (NEMA) National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 sections 49 (A) (1)(e) and (f), section 24 of the constitution as well as a directive of the municipal finance management act, says the DA in Limpopo. Selepe, however, is replaced by Peter Makondo at a special council meeting that was held last week Friday.

Member of Parliament (MP) Beyers Smit and DA ward councilor Thapelo Pooe accompanied Northern News to an area in Dudu Madisha street where
sewage is overflowing from a sewage pipe into the Dorps River. The pipe has been cut open by the municipality to overflow when the system is overloaded, said Smit. Test results for E Coli, an infectious and life-threatening virus was tested positive a year ago at the same spot.

"The DA has made calls to the municipality since 2010 to fix the sewerage system. This is deliberate pollution of our rivers which pose a health risk and harm to our environment," says a concerned Pooe. He added that this caused environmental pollution and degradation while failing to take reasonable measures to address this crisis.

This issue has been brought under the attention of MP Leon Basson serving on the water and sanitation portfolio. Basson indicated that he is busy with the problem.

The municipality did not provide feedback by time of going to press.