DA lays charges over poisonous water in Ugu District
The DA has laid criminal charges against Ugu District Municipality at the Margate Police Station. The charges were laid in terms of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) section 151 (1)(i); which states that no person may unlawfully & intentionally or negligently commit any act or omission which pollutes or is likely to pollute a water resource.
This is after the DA reported the problem of contaminated water to Ugu District on 20 December 2016. According to them, a team of environmentalists, including officials of the Provincial Department of Health, took samples and searched the entire area for signs of spillage. None was found.
Ugu has continuously stated that inspection of their facilities and pipelines show no sewerage overspill into the Uvongo River. Instead, they pushed the possibility of illegal dumping from chemical toilets or leaks from private properties.
The Democratic Alliance decided to do its own on-site inspection last week. Within an hour, the following not only shocking but devastating evidence was found which borders on criminal neglect from Ugu's side:
- The constant overflow and spillage of raw sewage into a tributary of the Uvongo River, from the temporary sewage facility arrangement at the new Masinenge Housing Project serving 26 families.