Please find attached soundbites in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL, Afrikaans by Jacky Basson, and Setswana by Ratang Molao.
Please see pictures here, here, here, and here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against JB Marks Local Municipality’s Municipal Manager, Kgomotso Kombe, at the Ventersdorp Police Station over the municipality’s failure to address ongoing raw sewage pollution from the non-functional Toevlug Sewer Pump Station.
DA North West Provincial Leader Freddy Sonakile MPL, accompanied by JB Marks Constituency Head Chris Hattingh, JB Marks Mayoral Candidate Prof. Theo Venter, and DA activists, filed the complaint following an oversight visit on 9 October 2026, which exposed the serious environmental and public health risks associated with the pump station’s prolonged failure.
Raw sewage continues to flow into the Schoonspruit, threatening surrounding communities, agricultural activities and the Ventersdorp Golf Course. The complaint, supported by a sworn affidavit, calls for an investigation into possible contraventions of the National Water Act and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), including failures to prevent and remedy environmental pollution.
In a significant show of support, the owner of the Ventersdorp Golf Course came forward to support the legal action and committed to providing a confirmatory statement. Affected residents have similarly undertaken to provide supporting statements detailing the impact of the sewage crisis.
There is precedent for criminal proceedings against municipal managers over sewage pollution. In 2022, four former Municipal Managers of Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Free State appeared in court on charges relating to sewage pollution, demonstrating that municipal officials can face criminal proceedings where their alleged acts or omissions warrant investigation and prosecution.
The DA maintains that municipal officials cannot escape accountability where their acts or omissions result in unlawful environmental pollution. Municipalities cannot attract investment, support agriculture or grow local economies while failing to maintain basic sanitation infrastructure.
The DA will closely monitor the criminal investigation while continuing to demand the urgent restoration of the Toevlug Sewer Pump Station.
The people of Ventersdorp deserve functioning services, a clean environment and accountability from those entrusted with public office.
Vote DA on 4 November for reliable service delivery, accountable government and a North West that works for all.