Raw sewage continues to flow in the streets of Makhanda and Alicedale, threatening the health and livelihoods of residents, contaminating agricultural land, and negatively impacting on downstream recreational activities in both the Kowie and Bushman’s River.
This gross negligence is a direct contravention of South African law, yet the Makana Municipality and the Eastern Cape MEC for CoGTA, Zolile Williams, have remained silent on the matter.
Despite months of written warnings, requests for assistance, reports and photographic evidence, there has been no response from the municipality and even less action to resolve this crisis.
[see pictures here, here and here]
It is for this reason that we went to the Makhanda Police Station on Thursday, 27 March 2025, where we laid criminal charges against the Municipal Manager, Mr Pumelelo Kate, for contravening the National Water Act. The Act clearly states that no person may unlawfully, and intentionally or negligently commit any act or omission which pollutes or is likely to pollute a water resource. As Makana’s accounting officer, it is Mr Kate’s job to ensure that the municipality complies with South African law.
Enough is enough!
We have also written to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Public Service Commission, and the South African Human Rights Commission to highlight the appalling conditions in which the residents of Makana continue to live, with the aim of eliciting accountability and action from the municipality.
The municipality is plagued by a catastrophic failure of its wastewater treatment infrastructure. Both the Wayfield and Belmont Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) in Makhanda are inoperable. The stark reality is that not a single drop of sewage is being treated in the town of Makhanda.
The water and sanitation crisis in Makana is an affront to human dignity and a clear indication of the municipality’s gross negligence. The DA will continue to fight for the right of all residents of Makana to live in clean, healthy, and safe conditions.
If the corrupt and inept ANC continues to fail us, the DA, with our excellent track record of clean governance and service delivery, stands ready to offer all residents in this municipality a meaningful life of dignity.