The Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Sello Seitlholo, has called a spade a spade, in calling out the Msukaligwa and Lekwa local municipalities to act speedily.

Seitlholo wants these Municipalities, to hurry up and roll out interventions to address the poor state of wastewater infrastructure, water quality and the pollution of water sources.

The Deputy Minister spoke at a working visit to Msukaligwa and Lekwa local municipalities, where he inspected the Ermelo Wastewater Treatment Works, De Vereeniging Farm and the Vaal River in Ermelo and Standerton.

Seitlholo said “I do understand that there could be financial constraints impeding some of the work that should be done. But I sense that people are moving at a snail’s pace to address challenges that impact on the provision of good quality water as well as the pollution of our water sources.
South Africa is a water-scarce country, and for this reason, we need to act fast to ensure that
we address matters relating to water infrastructure, and this also includes wastewater
infrastructure management.”

He also said that part of his delegated responsibility in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, is to contribute to finding solutions to challenges that impact on the quality of water in several water sources across the country.

“It is for this reason that we recently launched the Vaal River Anti-Pollution Forum to ensure
that we bring the quality of the raw water in the Vaal River system back to acceptable standards
for abstraction purposes. I am championing the Forum and believe me, we will not hesitate to
hold accountable those who continue to release raw sewage into our water sources.”

The Department is engaging municipalities to get their corrective action plans and ensure that they are speedily implemented.

In addition, the Deputy Minister said “we will continue to open criminal cases against the municipalities, if they fail to implement the
corrective measures that need to be implemented. It is our duty and in the interest of South Africans, we have to make sure that our water resources are of good quality as far as pollution is concerned. Through the cases, we will also enforce compliance of the corrective action plans.”

The oversight inspection took place on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, alongside the Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande District Municipality, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu and Msukaligwa Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Alderwoman Nkosi.


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