Imagine not being able to trust that your municipality is providing clean water that is safe for consumption.
This is the fate that has been suffered by the residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality in Mpumalanga.
The Bethal Magistrates' Court found the municipality guilty on 6 counts relating to the contravention of National Environmental Act (NEMA)107 of 1998, Pollution of Water resources, Contravention of National Water Act 36 of 1998, failure to comply with the compliance notice, unauthorised disposal of water and contravention of the Act that detrimentally affects water resources.
The court heard that during the period between November 2019 and September 2020, the municipality unlawfully committed an act which caused significant pollution to the environment.
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“[There was the] disposal and distribution of affluent raw and untreated sewer into Emzinoni location, eMbalenhle waste water treatment plant Trichardt Spruit, Wela Mlambo, Leandra N17 Pump station,Waterval Hoek River, Blesbok Spruit and Groot Spruit,” the court heard.
The state and the municipality entered into a plea and sentence agreement.
Advocate Beauty Cibangu addressed the court that the municipality is convicted of serious offences which had a detrimental effect on the ecological systems, and it also affected the citizens’ wellbeing.
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The municipality was then fined R200 million.
In sentencing the municipality, the court decided that all counts would be taken together for purposes of sentence.
Fifty million rand of the R200m fine is suspended for a period of five years on condition that the municipality is not convicted of contravention of Section 49A of the National Environmental Management Act 5 of 2002 and Section 151 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.
The Municipality was further ordered to repair all identified equipment as will be identified by the contractor on or before December 2026 and installation of weigh bridges to all Landfill sites on or before 30 May 2025.
