MLM in hot seat over water pollution

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked the Green Scorpions to intervene as Mpumalanga local municipalities are failing to provide proper wastewater and sewage disposal. This exposes residents to an environment that is harmful to their health. During the latest Green Drop assessment for Mpumalanga, it was noted that 43% of the province's wastewater systems were deemed to be in a critical state, and that only 6 out of the 76 systems in the province were operating well above capacity.

The above is completely unacceptable, given the constant land and freshwater pollution in municipalities such as Lekwa, Thaba Chweu, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Msukaligwa Local Municipalities. The DA finds it extremely concerning that of the 118 directives issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation, Mpumalanga was issued with the highest number in the country at 24.

During the 2022 analysis of wastewater systems in the province, no wastewater system scored the minimum of 90% needed. On compliance, Mpumalanga scored 19% on microbiological compliance, 25% on chemical compliance and 34% on physical compliance. Based on the Green Drop report for 2022, seven (7) municipalities in the province scored less than 30%.

Bushbuckridge is rated at 24%, as wastewater systems in Dwarsloop, Maviljan, Tintswalo, Mkhulu and Tulamahashe were reported to be in a critical state. Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme was rated at 22%, as all 5 waste water treatment systems are in a critical state. Lekwa was rated at 17%, as both water treatment systems are in a critical state. Msukaligwa was also rated at 17%, as all 7 waste water systems were reported to be in a critical state, Chief Albert Luthuli was rated at 11%, as all 5 waste water systems were in a critical state, Thaba Chweu was rated at 10%, and Dipaleseng scored a mere 4%.

Given the above, the DA has written to the Green Scorpions, requesting that they investigate pollution of the land and fresh water reserves in the above mentioned municipalities, and to ensure that this stops.