MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo said his department was working on amendments to hold Municipal Managers personally accountable for any water pollution resulting in serious risk to residents, animals and the environment.
These remarks were made by the Deputy Minister on Monday during oversight inspections in the North West Province, focused on assessing the impact on Ngaka Modiri Molema and Mahikeng’s water resources, and developing practical strategies to combat it.
Seitlholo arrived for a working oversight visit in Mahikeng to assess the level of water pollution in the Molopo River and the state of Waste Water Treatment Plants and its adverse effects on water resources.
Reports rendered during the oversight visit raised challenges of contamination of Setumo and Lotlamoreng Dams, which were reportedly increasingly becoming eutrophic and had overgrown reeds, due to high amounts of contaminents from sewage, illegal dumping by community members, sewage spillages and lack of maintenances in some of the local water treatment plants.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that in some cases the involvement of officials and political interference in the acquiring of water infrastructure tenders (in either replacing the infrastructure’s or water tankering) costs municipalities millions.
He added that these people had been exposed and criminal cases should be opened against those who interrup service delivery to the people.
Water pollution has severe impacts on communities, affecting their health, economy and overall well-being, thus the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, delegated the responsibility of management and prevention of pollution of water resources to her deputy.
In response, Mahikeng Local Municipality, Executive Mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo, said his municipality, as a water authority, had been given license for change, following ongoing challenges in communities.
“As Mahikeng Local Municipality we are lobbying for water authorities to stand by our side, as the people are frustrated. This is not all - there is a stench coming from Danville every time you pass over the bridge.
“Our people are living in very poor conditions and we need to work together to try to diminish the challenges facing our people.”
