Limpopo wastewater treatment works in disarray

Limpopo

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo, though its caucus structure in the provincial legislature, states that they will be submitting a motion with notice at the next sitting, to debate the concerning state of freshwater resources in the province.

In response to a questionnaire by the DA in Parliament, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, stated that between 2019 and 19 September 2024, 28 Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Limpopo were issued with directives specific to raw sewage spillage into freshwater resources, with the major WWTW experienced in Sekhukhune and Vhembe District Municipalities.

Lindy Wilson, DA Provincial Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), said Vhembe District has 14 wastewater treatment works and received 10 directives.

“The latest Green Drop Report also identified 50 WWTW systems to be in a critical state, compared to 32 systems in 2013. Most of these critical systems are managed by Sekhukhune, Mopani, Mogalakwena and Vhembe. The provincial Risk Ratio for treatment plants regressed significantly from 74.9% in 2013 to 84.7% in 2021,” explained Wilson.

She indicated that the foremost risks were observed at a treatment level and pointed to WWTWs that exceeded their design capacity, dysfunctional processes ,specifically disinfection, and equipment, lack of flow measurement, as well as effluent and sludge non-compliance.

“Thirteen of Vhembe’s 14 WWTW are in critical condition and it is evident that the current management does not have the capacity to turn around the years of neglect and mismanagement. Government reportedly laid 10 charges against four Limpopo municipalities between October 2022 and November 2023 for dysfunctional sewage systems, all these cases are still under investigation,” Wilson informed.

She added that the party has further laid three charges recently against Maruleng, Tzaneen and Modimolle-Mookgopong Municipalities for sewage spills in violation of The National Water Act 36 of 1998.

“The lack of political and will and consequence management to stem the faecal tide into our fresh water sources will  further exacerbate the struggle to provide drinking water to communities, a constitutional obligation  for which the South African Human Rights Commission has already found the Limpopo government wanting,” concluded Wilson.