Note to broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by cllr Lerina Strydom
On Wednesday, 2 October, during an oversight visit to assess the state of the water supply in the City of Matlosana, the DA found widespread sewer spillages aHnd inadequate treatment of wastewater across all four Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) in Matlosana. (See videos here and here).
Mr. Johannes Pilusa, Assistant Director responsible for the Sewer Section at the City of Matlosana, confirmed that the Klerksdorp WWTP is non-operational, resulting in sewage backflow into residential areas, particularly Jouberton. The forum proposed a joint technical meeting with senior officials from the City of Matlosana to develop solutions, but this meeting is yet to occur.
The ongoing sewer spillages, particularly in Orkney, Khuma, and Jouberton, have highlighted serious deficiencies in the sewer network, with many incidents recurring. Alarmingly, these spillages are often near water leaks, posing an additional threat of contamination to the community’s drinking water supply.
Downstream pollution of the Vaal River endangers clean water access for communities reliant on this vital resource. Addressing the heavily polluted water will demand significant resources and may challenge existing purification technologies to meet health standards for current and future populations.
During the recent Water Quality Forum meeting held on August 14, 2024, significant concerns were raised regarding the collapse of all WWTPs due to theft, leading to a complete halt in sewage treatment and chlorination. As a result, untreated sewage is flowing into local rivers and streams, exacerbating pollution levels and posing a severe risk to community health.
However, despite multiple correspondences highlighting this urgent health risk, responses from the City of Matlosana remain outstanding, and the call from residences to urgently address the situation falls on deaf ears.
The DA will submit a report to the Human Rights Commission as this situation is a direct violation of Section 24 of the Constitution, which guarantees every individual the right to a healthy environment.
The residents of Matlosana do not deserve to live in such conditions. Therefore, the DA will not rest until the WWTP is repaired and fully functional again.