The ongoing sewage crisis in Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM), where raw, untreated sewage is spilling directly into the Great Fish River, is both an environmental catastrophe and a human rights violation.
These spills are contaminating a vital water source and pose a grave threat to the health of residents and the surrounding ecosystem. Despite repeated warnings from Democratic Alliance councillors and concerned community members, the IYLM and Chris Hani District Municipality have failed to act.
The municipality claims that repairs and upgrades are underway at the Cradock Wastewater Treatment Works. Yet, the continued pollution proves that these efforts are either ineffective or incomplete, and no interim measures have been introduced to mitigate the damage.
Our DA councillors have submitted numerous reports, and I have posed formal parliamentary questions to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams. To date, no meaningful action has been taken.
Their silence and inaction amount to gross negligence and represent a direct contravention of Section 24(a) and (b) of the Constitution, which guarantees every South African the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have that environment protected from pollution and degradation through reasonable legislative and other measures.
The municipalities’ failure also infringes Section 27(1)(b), the right of access to sufficient water; Section 10, the right to dignity; and Section 11, the right to life.
We have seen this pattern before. Promises are made, communities are placated, and then nothing changes. The executive mayor must take personal responsibility for this environmental failure. The people of Cradock deserve more than vague assurances and hollow commitments.
For this reason, the DA has written to the South African Human Rights Commission and lodged an official complaint requesting that the SAHRC launch an urgent investigation into the sewage contamination of the Great Fish River and the municipalities’ refusal to implement effective interim measures or final repairs at the Cradock Wastewater Treatment Works.
We have also asked the Commission to:
- Launch an urgent investigation into the sewage contamination of the Great Fish River and the municipalities’ failure to act.
- Assess the public health risks and the ecological impact caused by the ongoing discharge of raw sewage.
- Identify and hold accountable municipal officials whose inaction or mismanagement contributed to this crisis.
- Recommend immediate remedial action, including interim infrastructure measures and emergency support for affected residents.
- Ensure transparent and ongoing communication with the public regarding water safety, health risks, and remedial timelines.
- Recognise this as a violation of environmental and human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
Critical infrastructure must be repaired without delay. The people of Cradock have been let down. Their health, dignity, and rights are being ignored. The DA will continue to stand with this community and will pursue every political and legal avenue to force the government to act. This must end.
Residents are encouraged to continue documenting the crisis and submitting reports and photographs. These will be included in our formal submissions as we fight for justice and clean water for every household in Cradock.