Calls for Free State government to be held responsible for sewage spills

The Free State government must be held accountable for failing to support municipalities and for allowing the collapse of water and sanitation infrastructure.

So says the DA, who will call for a debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to hold the Free State government accountable under Section 154 of the Constitution.

“This failure has turned the province’s rivers into sewage canals, posing a threat to lives, livelihoods, and the environment,” says Dr Igor Scheurkogel, member of parliament (MP) and member of the NCOP Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and Water and Sanitation.

He says the Free State’s collapse extends beyond its borders.

“Pollution in the Wilge flows into the Vaal Dam, threatening Gauteng’s water. The Caledon and Modder rivers feed Bloemfontein and the Orange system.

“Nearly 20 million South Africans face risk.”

The auditor-general (AG) has confirmed the Free State as the worst-run province in South Africa, with no municipality achieving a clean audit.

The persistent sewage spillages that have plagued Virginia and Meloding since way before 2023 have now come to a head, and urgent and immediate action is being demanded of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.

Hansie du Plessis of ward 9 (Virginia), Matjhabeng, has written a formal letter to the executive mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha, and the speaker, Stofile Bheki, expressing his profound disappointment and frustration over the persistent spillages that have plagued these communities for far too long.

“The lack of effective service delivery and accountability from the municipality has resulted in severe environmental degradation, public health risks, and a significant decline in the quality of life for residents.

“Despite repeated engagements with municipal officials, these issues remain unresolved, reflecting a systemic failure in infrastructure management. I urge you to prioritise immediate action to address these critical concerns,” says Du Plessis.

Du Plessis says that for more than a year, raw sewage has been flooding the Harvinia Sports terrain, creating an intolerable situation for community members.