Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Maryke Grobbelaar
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, and the MEC for Public Works, Elizabeth Mokua, to urgently resolve the dispute over departmental responsibility and address the raw sewerage flowing from Bray Intermediate School into the streets and contaminating the Molopo River.
Bray, a small community in the Kagisano-Molopo Municipality, is facing a dire environmental and health crisis. Raw sewerage from Bray Intermediate School is flowing into the streets and contaminating the Molopo River due to inadequate sewerage infrastructure. A dispute between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works has stalled any action to resolve the issue, as the two departments cannot reach an agreement on which is responsible for addressing the school’s internal sewerage system, leaving the community to endure the consequences.
Water scarcity is a reality for Bray and its surrounding areas. Every drop of water is a precious resource, and the contamination of underground water further exacerbates the community’s struggle to access clean and safe water. This environmental crisis not only threatens the health of local residents but also endangers the sustainability of the region’s limited water supply.
Furthermore, the DA will also escalate the matter to the Deputy Minister for Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, to bring this environmental pollution to his attention. Immediate intervention is required to protect the Molopo River and safeguard the community’s water resources from further contamination.
The Democratic Alliance remains committed to advancing the basic rights of all residents in North West, regardless of how rural or isolated a community may be. We believe that no community should have to endure such environmental and health hazards. The residents of Bray deserve clean streets, unpolluted water, and a government that prioritises their well-being.