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The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA demands Auditor-General probe into claims on eMbalenhle sewer plant
The DA in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality has called on the Office of the Auditor-General (AG) to launch a formal investigation into what it alleges are misleading claims by the municipality about the operational status of the eMbalenhle Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). According to the DA, municipal officials falsely informed the AG that the sewer plant was fully operational following repairs completed in the 2023/24 financial year. This claim was reportedly included in the AG's recent audit report. However, an oversight inspection by the DA revealed a different picture on the ground. 'Parts of the plant are still not functioning, and the municipal manager misled the Auditor-General by claiming that the facility is operational when it clearly is not. It continues to pollute the environment, and residents deserve an honest and accountable government,' said DA councillor Lehlohonolo Madumise. Oversight visit findings During a recent site visit, the DA reported the following issues at the facility: • A screw screen was non-functional, with repair tools left unattended nearby. • Several pumps lacked the cabling required to connect to a power supply. • All pumps at the station were found to be switched off. These findings, the party argues, directly contradict the municipality's assertion that the plant is fully operational and that environmental risks have been mitigated. The Govan Mbeki Municipality was fined R200m by the Bethal Regional Court in 2023 for contravening environmental legislation. It was found guilty of discharging untreated sewage into nearby rivers and streams and was ordered to implement remedial infrastructure upgrades by December 2026. A multi-stakeholder inspection was conducted on March 19, involving officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), and the Gert Sibande District Municipality. This team assessed both the WWTW and the Ext 22 pump station in eMbalenhle. At the time, DWS deputy director-general for regulations, compliance and enforcement, Xolani Zwane, acknowledged progress in reducing sewage spillage in the area. Municipal manager Elliot Maseko also expressed confidence in the plant's performance during the inspection. ALSO READ: A day in the life of a baker from Standerton 'The municipal leadership and administration formulated plans and interventions to ensure the sewage plant is up and running. This sewer plant worked for the past eight months without any hindrances,' Maseko said. However, Maseko also cited previous vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure as setbacks that had contributed to the pollution of the local river system. Despite the municipality's assurances, the DA maintains that the plant is not operating at full capacity and continues to pose a serious environmental risk. The party has now formally requested the Auditor-General to investigate the alleged discrepancy and to hold those responsible to account. 'This is not just about failing infrastructure. It is about misleading oversight bodies and letting down the community,' Madumise said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
21-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Residents hopeful as Umhlanga Wastewater Treatment Works refurbishment begins
The Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA) hoped that the R60 million refurbishment of the Umhlanga Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) would be done efficiently and competently. Image: Supplied The Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA) hoped that the R60 million refurbishment of the Umhlanga Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) would be done efficiently and competently. Work began last week to refurbish the April 2022 storm-damaged WWTW. eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the scope of work entails a rehabilitation and functional upgrade of critical infrastructure within the treatment works, including mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural elements. She said key interventions include refurbishing the inlet works, aeration basins, clarifiers, sludge handling pumping systems, electrical works, instrumentation, and the chlorination system. 'The improvements will assist to restore operational efficiency at the works for the treatment of sewage. The works will be able to receive an apportionment of wastewater from the Umhlanga catchment for treatment,' Sisilana said. eThekwini Ward 35 Councillor Bradley Singh confirmed that the multimillion-rand upgrade to the WWTW is finally under way, despite a four-month delay in starting the project. Singh explained that the April 2022 floods severely damaged one of the facility's main purifiers, forcing its complete shutdown. He added that since 2022, the WWTW plant has been operating on a single treatment unit, which also failed two weeks ago. 'The department temporarily restored operations using generators, but the system is under immense strain. The upgrade will not only restore full capacity but also expand the plant's ability to handle increasing waste volumes as Durban's northern areas continue to develop,' Singh explained. The Shellborne pump station directs wastewater from La Lucia, Homeford, Shellborne, Armstrong Avenue, and Whalebone Pier to the Umhlanga plant. Singh explained that with one purifier out of service, excess sewage had to be diverted to the Phoenix plant. He said this temporary solution failed to address long-term risks. 'Residents have borne the brunt of the crisis, with frequent sewage spills leading to repeated closures of Umhlanga's beaches. The foul odour and health hazards have sparked widespread complaints, underscoring the urgent need for a permanent solution,' Singh said. Terry MacLarty, chairperson of the URRA, said they were delighted that eThekwini is finally undertaking this repair, which was long overdue. MacLarty said the URRA has been campaigning to get the work done to prevent the overflowing sewage lines and the E. coli contamination of the ocean for years. 'This repair is critical to restore our attraction to visitors, which has taken a huge knock as a result of beach closures, resulting from the failure of infrastructure. Umhlanga is a major contributor to the rates of eThekwini, and the restoration of our tourism will make a huge difference to the economy of our area. We are hopeful that this repair work will be done efficiently and competently and will be completed as soon as possible,' MacLarty said. [email protected] The Umhlanga coastline, north of Durban. Image: Supplied / eThekwini Municipality
