19 September 2025
Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - Klerksdorp is heading for an environmental catastrophe if the main wastewater treatment plant is not repaired soon.
Currently the plant discharges 69 litres of untreated sewage in the Schoonspruit poisoning the community. According to the DA “this is a full-blown sewage crisis that was allowed to spiral out of control’’. The plant has been out of service since July 2023 when an armed mob overpowered security guards at the site, stripping it bare. The main transformer located at the plant and the electrical cable network were stolen.
During a DA parliamentary oversight visit earlier this month to the Klerksdorp wastewater treatment plant, it was evident that the crisis is worsening, with no credible recovery plan in sight. Due to the collapse of the Klerksdorp treatment plant, sewage from Klerksdorp and Jouberton is discharged untreated through the Schoonspruit into the Vaal River.
The Schoonspruit feeds into the Vaal River, a vital lifeline for households, agriculture, and ecosystems in North West. Across Hartbeesfontein, Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, and Orkney, residents live amidst burst pipes, failing pump stations, and rivers of sewage running through neighbourhoods. Businesses and farms are also being devastated by widespread contamination.
The DA has repeatedly raised the alarm. “We engaged with key stakeholders, including the Mayor of Matlosana. Promises of turnaround strategies and timelines were made, but nothing has materialised,’’ said Jeanne Adriaanse, MP.
“This is not merely a technical collapse; it is a collapse of governance. Warning after warning has been ignored, reports have been shelved, and infrastructure has been left to rot. Today, raw human waste is choking rivers, contaminating groundwater, and threatening the health of thousands.’’
In reply, Samson Kohla manager in Office of the Mayor, said the municipality appointed a consultant to do an assessment and the technical report was finally documented for submission to get funding to restore the treatment plant.
“Since the submission of the Technical report by the Directorate of Technical and Infrastructure, the Executive Mayor has met with the Deputy Minister of water and sanitation to discuss possible interventions with the provincial government and national government.’’
