'Cities are becoming sick’

SEWAGE SPILLAGE: OVER 50% OF MUNICIPALITIES FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES - MINISTER

- Brian Sokutu

Against the background of Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina having announced that more than 50% of the country's municipalities faced criminal charges for failing to address raw sewage spillages into fresh water resources, a leading expert has warned that the crisis in metros and large cities was serious, with its long-term consequences underestimated.

In response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Cathlene Labuschagne, Majodina disclosed that 50.61% of municipalities were subject to criminal proceedings for noncompliance with government directives on sewerage management.

According to Majodina, her department had issued 164 directives for raw sewage spillages into freshwater resources - from 2019 up to last September.

The investigation found that of the municipalities assessed, 94 were noncompliant, while 54 were partially compliant.

Only 15 achieved full compliance, with one municipality remaining unrated.

The department has initiated 83 criminal cases against non-compliant and partially compliant municipalities.