Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English by Bili Hamilton
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the deteriorating condition of an open sewerage canal in Mogwase Unit 8, which continues to place the health and safety of residents at serious risk.
Following a site inspection and documentation conducted between 16 and 17 May 2026, alarming conditions were observed at the canal, including severely eroded earthen banks, exposed raw sewage, and the complete absence of protective barriers or fencing. The canal runs directly alongside residential properties, forcing residents, including children, to navigate dangerously close to contaminated and unstable areas daily (see photos here, here, here, and here).
This situation is not only unacceptable but represents a serious and ongoing public health hazard. Exposure to raw sewage creates the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A, while contamination of surrounding soil and possible seepage into local water sources further threatens the wellbeing of the community.
In addition to the health risks, the collapsing canal banks pose a physical danger to residents and raise concerns about the structural stability of nearby homes situated close to the affected area.
The DA believes that no community should be forced to live in conditions that endanger their health, dignity, and safety because of municipal neglect and failing infrastructure. Residents deserve basic services that are properly maintained and infrastructure that protects communities instead of placing them at risk.
The DA therefore calls on the Moses Kotane Local Municipality to urgently:
- Conduct an immediate inspection of the affected area;
- Install protective barriers and secure the canal without delay; and
- Present a credible and funded remediation plan within 30 days to address the long-term rehabilitation of the infrastructure.
The DA will further engage the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the Department of Water and Sanitation, and all relevant oversight bodies to ensure accountability and urgent intervention.
Communities in Mogwase Unit 8 cannot continue to be exposed to unsafe living conditions while critical infrastructure is allowed to deteriorate unchecked.
The DA will continue fighting for clean, safe, and dignified living conditions for all residents.