The criminal case of Moqhaka for the People (MFP) against the Moqhaka Municipality and three senior municipal employees was again heard – and for the umpteenth time postponed – in the Kroonstad Magistrates’ Court last week.
The case regarding pollution in Kroonstad and surrounding areas was opened in November 2019, addressing the raw sewage contaminating mainly the Vals River and ending up in the Vaal and Orange River, emanating from towns in the Moqhaka Municipality. Sewage flows freely in many suburbs.
The National Water Act stipulates that all water service authorities, defined as any municipality responsible for ensuring access to water service, must at all times have measures in place to prevent and protect water resources from pollution. According to the MFP, the municipality did not adhere to this.
The case, which was heard in court for the first time in June 2022, has been referred on several occasions between the High Court and the Kroonstad Regional Court.
Although the case was supposed to resume in February, it was postponed yet again – in this instance, until May.
On Thursday (04/05) and Friday witnesses, for the first time, were permitted to take the stand to testify. However, due to technical issues and load shedding, the case was postponed until October before all were heard.
“It is very sad that the case was postponed again, especially knowing the many health risks involved and because everyone has the right to clean and fresh water,” says former councilor Jeanie Hatting, a resident of Kroonstad who attended the court proceedings last week.
“This means that for the next five months, the sewage will continue to flow into the rivers before the authorities will listen to the case.”
Concerns are raised that the case is dragging on at a disconcerting pace, especially seen in the light of David Mabusa, deputy president at the time, visiting Kroonstad twice in September 2021 to address the sewage issues in the Moqhaka municipality. Mabusa subsequently arranged for funding to upgrade the sewage treatment plant in Kroonstad. Millions were spent, and yet the plant is still not fully functional and the sewage issues in the neighbourhoods are even worse.
Last year in August VrystaatKroon reported on business and home owners in Moqhaka being frustrated due to the ongoing sewage problems causing damage to the infrastructure of buildings and houses.
VrystaatKroon sent an inquiry to the municipality for comment and, at the time of publishing, was still awaiting feedback.
