The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Mopani District has written to Mayor Pule Shayi demanding that the municipality urgently develop and publish a credible and funded recovery plan, prioritise repairs, maintenance and refurbishment of failing wastewater infrastructure, and take disciplinary action against responsible officials.
Mopani, as the Water Services Authority, is responsible for water and sanitation services across all five local municipalities in the district, with local municipalities appointed as Water Services Providers under the control of the District.
The latest report shows that wastewater management in the district remains far from safe or compliant, and well below Green Drop certification level. Several wastewater treatment works remain high-risk, including Lulekani, Namakgale, Giyani, Tzaneen, Nkowankowa, Sekgosese and Ga-Kgapane. The report confirms ongoing vulnerability to pump-station failures, sewer overflows, poor effluent compliance and weak technical management.
These findings reinforce serious concerns already raised in Mopani’s 4th Quarter Audit Committee report, which recorded poor Blue and Green Drop performance, slow corrective action, lack of testing equipment, absent maintenance plans, non-functional meters, poor management of leaks and water losses, discharge of effluent without chlorine, an unaccredited water-quality laboratory, and unlicensed waste and water treatment plants.
The situation in Ba-Phalaborwa is particularly concerning. The Green Drop scores for the three key wastewater treatment works remain deeply inadequate: Lulekani WWTW at 49.8%, Namakgale WWTW at 53.2%, and Phalaborwa WWTW at 45.4%. Their risk ratings are equally alarming, with Lulekani at 64.7%, Namakgale at 81.8%, and Phalaborwa at 86.4%.
The report confirms what communities have experienced for years: failing wastewater infrastructure, sewer spillages, poor maintenance, inadequate plant performance, and weak municipal accountability. The impact is severe: polluted rivers, public-health risks, environmental damage, and harm to agriculture, tourism, and local economic activity.
During a DA oversight visit to the Lenyenye Wastewater Treatment Works, raw effluent flowing directly into a nearby tributary of the Letaba River was clearly visible.
Failure to act will leave the DA with no option but to consider further steps, including criminal complaints where unlawful discharge or gross negligence can be established.