Note editors: Please find the attached English soundbite by Kingsol Chabalala MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng will write to the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, demanding answers on why Emfuleni residents continue to suffer from the unpleasant and hazardous conditions caused by sewage overflow despite Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) spending over R200 million to repair sewer leaks.
In response to questions from the DA about repairing sewer leaks in Emfuleni, MEC Mamabolo revealed that the municipality spent R202 659 089.11 on fixing these leaks over the past five financial years. The breakdown of the money spent is as follows:
R51 089 548.10 in 2019/20
R24 370 610.14 in 2020/21
R35 925 971.67 in 2021/22
R45 532 957.60 in 2022/23
R45 740 001.60 in 2023/24
The MEC reported that 71 service providers were contracted to address sewage leaks over five years. Among the companies hired, ALSANDRO Construction received over R24 million, while another company, SOBANGENA, was paid over R23 million.
See full reply here.
During his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasised that an effective municipal government system and cooperative governance are essential for any plans aimed at economic and social development. He noted that a local government turnaround summit was held in October 2024 to address issues related to 31 municipal governance, financial, infrastructure, and service delivery challenges.
However, Emfuleni’s expenditures are not translating into improved services for residents. Furthermore, the Gauteng Department of COGTA has not responded effectively to these ongoing issues, even after multiple requests for intervention from the DA Gauteng.
The DA Gauteng demands immediate intervention from the Gauteng COGTA MEC, as this issue cannot be ignored. Should the MEC fail to intervene, the DA will escalate the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission, since inadequate sanitation is a violation of human rights.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government will tackle sewage overflow challenges and prevent environmental hazards by prioritising proper repair of sewage infrastructure. This will involve hiring qualified and dedicated contractors capable of doing the job well.