Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Gerhard Strydom
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana welcomes the unopposed court order obtained by AfriForum, compelling the City of Matlosana to submit quarterly progress reports on its sewer repair plan to the court. This follows the municipality’s failure to act on the initial plan submitted on 10 February 2023.
The DA believes this court order is a critical step toward enforcing accountability and addressing the long-standing sewer crisis affecting communities in Matlosana and the surrounding water systems.
While there has been limited progress in reducing the direct sewage flow into the Schoonspruit at Kanana, the situation remains dire. The largest wastewater treatment facility in the city – the Klerksdorp Waste Water Treatment Plant in Jouberton – remains completely non-functional. Designed to treat 36 megalitres of sewage daily, the plant currently allows all incoming waste to flow untreated into the Schoonspruit and ultimately the Vaal River.
Residents of Matlosana, along with downstream water users, have endured unbearable conditions due to the stench, health risks, and environmental damage caused by raw sewage. Repeated complaints have been ignored by the ANC-led administration, which continues to fail in delivering essential services.
The DA urges the City of Matlosana to comply fully with the court’s order and to implement urgent and lasting solutions to this crisis. The time for delays and excuses is over – communities deserve clean water, a safe environment, and a government that takes its responsibilities seriously.