The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has opened a criminal case against the Mbombela Local Municipality, accusing it of failing to prevent severe water pollution caused by a malfunctioning wastewater treatment plant. The allegations follow reports of raw sewage contaminating rivers and canals in White River, posing health risks to residents and farmers.
Sewage Spill Causes Environmental Disaster
Residents have reported foul-smelling, blackened water flowing into the White River, with the pollution traced back to the dysfunctional wastewater treatment plant. According to the ACDP, a contractor appointed in 2023 and paid R17 million to upgrade the facility abandoned the project, leaving the plant inoperable.
“The raw sewage is going straight through the plant and into the river,” an ACDP representative stated. “This is a natural disaster affecting the Primkopdam and the Crocodile River.”
Municipality Denies Full Payment to Contractor
The Mbombela Municipality has disputed claims that the contractor received the full R17 million, stating only R9 million was paid before the contractor faced financial difficulties and left the project. Municipal officials say a new contractor will begin work next week, and environmental specialists have been brought in to assess damage caused by the spill.
Farmers and Communities at Risk
Local farmers say the contaminated water is unusable for drinking, irrigation, or livestock. “At the moment, we can’t use the water at all,” one farmer said. “It’s undrinkable, unsafe for animals, and shouldn’t even be used on crops.”
The ACDP warns that the pollution could lead to waterborne disease outbreaks, such as cholera, and has lodged a case with the White River Police Station. The matter will be referred to the Eco Scorpions, a specialized environmental crimes unit, for further investigation.
Municipality Vows Cooperation
The municipality has pledged to cooperate with investigators but faces mounting pressure to resolve the crisis. The ACDP insists that authorities must be held accountable for neglecting public health and environmental safety.
As the legal process unfolds, residents and farmers remain without clean water, raising concerns over long-term health and economic impacts.