AfriForum submits criminal charges against Naledi Local Municipality’s municipal manager

The civil rights organisation AfriForum this week submitted criminal charges against Tshepo Bloom, Municipal Manager of the Naledi Local Municipality in Vryburg, due to poor management of sewage works and pollution of water sources.

This follows after various complaints were received form the public about sewage that is flowing in streets, manholes that are flooding and sewage flowing into the Klein Hartsrivier due to the mismanagement of sewage works. This charge was submitted in terms of Section 151 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998), which states that any person who purposefully pollutes water and water sources must be held accountable.

“The municipality is constitutionally obligated to protect water sources, but that is definitely not the case here,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s Regional Coordinator for Stellaland.

Pretorius further adds that the problem is caused by poor municipal management and lack of maintenance, and that the guilty parties must be held accountable for the pollution. “The Municipality receives tax money from residents to maintain sewage works and the sewage infrastructure in the town, as well as to upgrade these and see to it that sewage does not pollute the environment. The Municipality fails to do their duty and therefore it is our responsibility to call the Municipality to task,” Pretorius concludes.

AfriForum will follow up on the case with the police to ensure that this problem is rectified. The case was also brought to the attention of the Green Scorpions.

Become involved with your local AfriForum branch today: SMS “Vryburg” to 45340 (R1).