DA escalates Sannieshof sewer crisis as residents’ constitutional rights are violated

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Carin Visser

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about the ongoing collapse of sanitation services in Sannieshof, which has reached a level that may constitute systemic violations of residents’ constitutional and human rights.

For nearly 30 years, residents have endured the persistent failure of septic tank vacuuming services. The past week has once again exposed the seriousness of the crisis, with overflowing septic tanks, uncontrolled sewage spillages, and residents being continuously exposed to toxic sewer gases (see photos here, here, here, and here).

Despite numerous engagements with municipal officials and repeated complaints logged through the municipal call centre, there appears to be no functional administrative system in place to ensure that this essential service is delivered. Communication with responsible officials has also broken down, with calls going unanswered while complaints remain unresolved.

Residents are being billed for sanitation services that are not being rendered, while they are forced to live under hazardous and undignified conditions. This raises serious concerns about administrative accountability and the municipality’s failure to fulfil its statutory obligations.

The municipality has a clear constitutional duty to provide basic services and protect the health, dignity and safety of residents. The continued failure to deliver sanitation services may constitute violations of several provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, including:

• Section 10 – the right to human dignity
• Section 24 – the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing
• Section 152 – the obligation of local government to ensure sustainable service delivery

The current situation presents a significant public health risk and raises concerns about environmental contamination caused by unmanaged sewage spillages.

Residents cannot reasonably be expected to live with sewage overflowing into their homes and properties while authorities fail to act. When residents are forced to take emergency measures to protect their families and properties from sewage overflow, it reflects a municipality that has failed to provide a sustainable sanitation service.

The DA will continue to pursue accountability and support residents through the following actions:

1. Monitoring the Public Protector investigation: The sanitation crisis in Sannieshof has already been formally reported to the Public Protector, and an investigation into the matter is currently underway. The DA will closely monitor the progress of this investigation and ensure that the municipality fully cooperates with all requests for information and evidence.
2. Demanding implementation of the Public Protector’s findings: Once the investigation is concluded, the DA will insist that the municipality immediately implement all remedial actions recommended by the Public Protector. Too often, oversight findings are ignored or delayed, leaving residents to continue suffering the consequences of municipal failure.
3. Provincial Environmental Oversight: Through DA MPL Jóhni Steenkamp, the DA will engage the provincial Department of Environmental Affairs to ensure that the Green Scorpions conduct a thorough investigation into the environmental and health risks caused by failing sewage services. This will hold provincial authorities accountable for enforcing environmental laws and protecting the community from contamination.

The continued exposure of residents to hazardous sewage conditions represents a direct threat to public health, environmental safety and human dignity. Immediate intervention and a sustainable sanitation service plan are urgently required.

The people of Sannieshof deserve lawful governance, functional services and the protection of their constitutional rights.