DA takes eThekwini municipality to court over sewage crisis
The case will be heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26, with a public protest planned outside the courthouse.
A years-long sewage crisis has plagued communities, damaging tourism, the environment and public health.
The DA, which is fully funding the civil suit, is urging residents to join the protest and demand accountability for environmental degradation and the collapse of public amenities.
Provincial leader Francois Rodgers MPL, provincial chairperson Dean Macpherson MP, and DA eThekwini caucus leader councillor Thabani Mthethwa will lead the demonstration.
'This case centres on the inability of the ANC-IFP-EFF-run municipality to implement a turnaround plan to fix infrastructure issues and comply with environmental directives from both national and provincial government,' said Macpherson.
'We will hold the failed ANC-IFP-EFF-run eThekwini municipality accountable for the terrible state of service delivery in the city.'
Communities such as Umdloti, Tongaat, La Mercy, Mount Moreland, and Westbrook have endured years of sewage spills and infrastructure neglect.
Umdloti and Westbrook have suffered the worst effects, with unsafe beaches impacting tourism, the environment and public health.
DA Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullen highlighted the environmental and economic toll.
'We have a sewerage crisis in eThekwini,' Pullen told the Courier. 'We have lost all our Blue Flag beaches due to E. coli contamination from poorly maintained sewer works.'
In 2020/21, 12 eThekwini beaches, including Westbrook Beach, Umdloti Tidal Pool and Umdloti Main Beach, held Blue Flag status. Today, none remain.
Pullen emphasised the blow to tourism caused by pollution.
READ MORE: Sewage spill nightmare in Tongaat | North Coast Courier
'Just think how many tourism jobs we are losing because our sea is polluted. The DA is keen to get our sewerage works functioning properly,' he said.
The office of eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba could not be reached for comment.
However, in a July 8 blog post on the eThekwini Municipality's website titled Enhancing Service Delivery Remains a Goal, Xaba acknowledged the issue.
'We are also responsible for reticulating sewage without spillage and for treating and discharging sewage at an acceptable quality,' wrote the mayor.
READ MORE: Sewage spill in Umdloti blamed on sand infiltration and budget constraints | North Coast Courier
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