Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Leanne De Jager MPL.
Raw sewage levels flowing into the Jukskei River from Morninghill have increased, with contaminated water now travelling further downstream through the City of Ekurhuleni and the City of Johannesburg, putting residents’ health at risk. This is not a new problem; it is a worsening one, and it points squarely to a lack of political will to fix it.
Despite repeated oversight visits, engagement with ward councillors, and correspondence to the Gauteng MEC for Environment, the underlying causes remain unaddressed. The sewage pipes are old and need to be replaced because they are leaking or bursting.
When a pipe burst occurs, it is not repaired or replaced, and raw sewage flows directly into the river unchecked. Two administrations, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg, are failing to coordinate a response, leaving residents and the environment to pay the price while officials pass the buck across municipal boundaries.
This is not just an environmental failure; it is a public health emergency. Raw sewage in the water system endangers residents and damages fauna and flora. Furthermore, it also undermines Gauteng’s water security at a time when the province can least afford it.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng demands that a joint task team be established between the City of Ekurhuleni, the City of Johannesburg, and the Gauteng Department of Water and Sanitation, with a public, time-bound pipe replacement and repair schedule for the Morninghill sewage network.
Furthermore, an emergency fund must be ring-fenced to replace the most critical failing pipe sections, rather than waiting for annual budget cycles. In addition, the Jukskei River’s water quality testing results must be published publicly, so residents can hold both municipalities accountable.
Furthermore, the establishment of a coordinated anti-littering and river clean-up programme, working with local ward councillors and community groups, backed by proper enforcement against illegal dumping, and should be implemented. Officials in both municipalities must face consequences for inaction after years of documented complaints.
The DA Gauteng will be engaging with our Deputy Minister of Water and the Minister of Environmental Affairs, regarding this ongoing environmental disaster.
Gauteng residents cannot continue to live alongside a river that has been turned into an open sewer. A DA-led Gauteng Provincial government would immediately work with municipalities where raw sewage is running into our waterways and has gone unchecked. We will take disciplinary action against any officials who fail to curtail the pollution of our waterways.