Note to editors: Please find attached an English soundbite by Cllr Ntombi Mokoena and Sesotho by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Phumelela Local Municipality calls for immediate accountability from the municipality regarding the state of the sewerage plant in Phumelela-Warden. During a recent address to the council, former Technical Director, Leslie Mokoena claimed that the sewerage plant is ninety per cent complete and that the ongoing sewerage spillage into the adjacent river would soon be resolved.
However, a recent oversight visit by DA councillors, accompanied by DA Member of Provincial Legislature David Masoeu MPL, revealed that the plant is far from completion, with sewerage still flowing into the river. The Mayor must be reminded that a pending court case exists against the municipality due to the contamination of the river, which flows through farming areas, endangering livestock and the health of residents.
Despite the municipality spending millions on the plant upgrade, it is nowhere near the level of progress reported by the Technical Director. Critical infrastructure issues remain unaddressed: only one sewerage pump is operational, and even this is not connected to the dams. Makeshift furrows have been manually dug to divert sewerage directly into the river.
The DA has formally requested that the issue of the sewerage plant be prioritised and included as a standing item on the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) agenda to ensure regular oversight and demand accountability from the municipality—an action the MPAC has yet to undertake. The DA will continue to press both the Mayor and the Municipal Manager for transparency regarding the funds spent on the project and demand immediate corrective action to prevent further harm to the community.