R200 million fine imposed on Govan Mbeki Municipality for Contravention of the Environment Act
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga welcomes the R200 million fine imposed on the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality (GMM) for contravention of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998.
This week, the Bethal Magistrate Court fined GMM R200 Million for releasing raw and untreated sewage polluting the local freshwater streams. It is alleged that GMM has been polluting the water streams intentionally for almost two years.
“The DA has been consistent in calling on the municipality to deal with sewer spillage in GMM, but this was met with deaf ears. We first reported this matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in 2012,” said Cllr James Masango – DA Councilor in Govan Mbeki Municipality, “The municipality, together with its former Manager, Felani Mndebele, were summoned to the SAHRC offices in Mbombela where they were asked to respond to the DA’s complaints about the sewage spills. However, nothing was done to improve the situation after that.”
The sewerage system in GMM has deteriorated further due to systemic corruption, maladministration, fraud, incapacity and poor maintenance of the current infrastructure.
Most sewage pump stations and some Wastewater Treatment Plants in GMM are dysfunctional. Compounding the crisis is that the GMM is bankrupt, and it was one of the municipalities in Mpumalanga that were categorised as dysfunctional by the Provincial Government.
“It is not clear if this municipality is going to pay the R200 million if it is unable to pay Eskom and Rand Water,” said Masango
“It is a wake-up call for the people of Govan Mbeki to remove the uncaring and corrupt ANC from government. It is only a DA Government that can rescue GMM and the rest of South Africa from ANC mismanagement.”
