Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Coreen Malherbe and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here and here, and videos here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matjhabeng has submitted a motion and formal questions for the next Council meeting to compel the municipality and Executive Mayor to account for the ongoing sewage crisis in St Helena and provide urgent intervention. The matter has already been escalated to the Department of Water and Sanitation for immediate attention.
The ongoing sewage spill is exposing school pupils, residents, and motorists to severe health and safety risks, while also damaging infrastructure, affecting local businesses, and lowering the community’s quality of life.
School pupils from St Helena Primary School are forced to face streams of sewage running down the street next to their school gate. This is associated with a terrible stench and a high possibility of infectious diseases. The Matjhabeng Mayor, the Acting Municipal Manager, and the Infrastructure Directors are turning a blind eye to this inhumane and potentially debilitating situation.
The Checkers Shopping Centre in St Helena is inaccessible from the Unicor Road side due to overgrown bushes and branches preventing traffic from entering. Massive potholes are causing havoc for motorists and significant damage to vehicles. Sewage-flooded roads make it nearly impossible for pupils and pedestrians to cross safely, while homeowners are also negatively affected.
Driven by ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, and failing management, this crisis poses major health risks and severely affects residents and businesses that use the shopping centre. This situation emphasises the urgent need for intervention and accountability from the Matjhabeng Municipality.
At a Mayoral Imbizo held in Ward 33 in April 2026, the Mayor acknowledged the inhumane conditions affecting Checkers, residents and the school. The municipality agreed that urgent intervention was needed, while the Director of Infrastructure promised that work to resolve the matter would begin during April 2026. To date, however, nothing has been done, and raw sewage continues to run freely down the street.
In April 2025, a High Court order found that the Matjhabeng Municipality and Lejweleputswa District Municipality had failed to meet their constitutional and statutory obligations to provide adequate and healthy municipal sanitation at the St Helena Checkers area.
Again, in November 2025, the then Acting Municipal Manager of Matjhabeng and Municipal Manager of Lejweleputswa had to appear in court regarding this ongoing matter.
It is disturbing that despite two court orders in favour of Checkers, the school, and the regional community, the municipality has taken no action. Despite contempt of court, the municipality has shown no accountability. A third court order, including personal liability for responsible municipal officials, may now be required to force immediate corrective action.
The Matjhabeng DA will continue to hold the municipality accountable for providing adequate, healthy sanitation services and complying with existing court orders.