The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo will request the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, to confirm the plan, budget and timeframe of the settlement agreement entered into on 29 July 2025 by Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) to repair the Musina sewage system.
The settlement agreement, made an order of court by the High Court in Polokwane, emanates from a civil action brought against Musina and Vhembe District Municipalities, the MEC for COGHTSA, the Premier of Limpopo and the Minister of Water and Sanitation for damages of lucerne crops and severe environmental damage on a farm adjacent to leaking sewage infrastructure.
VDM agreed to “see to the proper repair and future maintenance of the sewerage pipeline from the Nancefield informal settlement to the sewerage pants that buts the applicant’s property…”.
The municipality further admitted that the situation was untenable and undertook to complete the work by 25 November 2025.
The DA has been calling for VDM to be place under administration for more than a decade, laid a complaint at the South African Human Rights Commission and also laid charges at SAPS on 6 May 2024 for failure to address the continuous sewage spills across Musina.
VDM’s unfunded budget for the financial year, their inability to manage their finances, compounding water losses in a water scarce district, debt to Lepelle Water board, a wholesale lack of infrastructure maintenance and disdain for accountability guarantees that the settlement will not be adhered to.
Musina’s entire sewage infrastructure is vulnerable and compromised; the complete system must be refurbished and then regularly maintained, which VDM was incapable to do for a decade.
Failure to meet the requirements timeously, will put VDM in contempt of court which can lead to a fine imposed and further litigation.
The DA urges MEC Makamu to accept the inevitable: Vhembe District has not been able to execute its service delivery mandate in 10 years and urgent action must be taken; failure to do so will result in more litigation, which VDM can ill afford.