President Ramaphosa Urges Immediate Action On Water Crisis In Mogale City

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for urgent action to tackle the growing water and sanitation crisis in Mogale City Local Municipality after reports showed untreated sewage being dumped into local water systems.

This came after a publication of an article in News24 on Oct. 13 about the sewage crisis in Mogale City, which the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has confirmed is "broadly accurate."

During a media briefing on Wednesday, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that the president is very worried about the recent reports regarding untreated sewage discharge in Mogale City Local Municipality.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that the situation has been allowed to reach such untenable levels, costing business sustainability, jobs and livelihoods. President Ramaphosa wants the situation addressed as a matter of urgency and in the process, wants those responsible for such a state of decline to be held accountable," Magwenya said, SA News reported.

Since 2019, the DWS issued several notices and orders to Mogale City Municipality under the National Water Act, telling it to fix the sewage pollution problem.

However, these orders have been ignored, leading the DWS to file criminal charges against the municipality for sewage pollution in August 2023. The department is now working with law enforcement to investigate the situation and prepare a case file.

Ramaphosa is extremely concerned about the serious risks the pollution poses to public health, agriculture, economic activity, and the environment. Magwenya mentioned that the sewage pollution from the municipality is negatively affecting the Cradle of Humankind, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In response to the situation, Ramaphosa has sent a letter to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, asking him to work with the municipality under section 139 of the Constitution. The president urged the Premier to collaborate with the municipality to take immediate action to fix the problem.

One of the main priorities is to repair and restore the Percy Steward wastewater treatment facility to full working order, according to Magwenya. He also mentioned that addressing the issue may require partnering with local businesses, which should be considered.

In August, DWS announced its plan to prioritize finishing the remaining delayed Bucket Eradication Program projects in the Northern Cape and Free State. The Bucket Eradication Program is established to eradicate bucket toilets in certain areas and seeks to replace them with a new toilet structure, install both water and drainage network.