City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality on the wrong side of the law

18 September 2024

The District Court of North West held at Ga-rankuwa has postponed the case against the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality duly represented by Johan Mettler who is the City Manager to the 25 October 2024 for the matter to be transferred to Regional Court for trail.

The municipality is facing charges of unlawful disposal of waste, committing an act which is likely to cause significant pollution to the environment, commit an act or omission which pollutes or is likely to a water resource and failure to comply with any conditions attached to a permitted water use this act.

It is alleged that between the period of 12 October 2016 and 22 January 2022 and at or near the Klipgat Waste Water Treatment Works on farm Nooitgedacht 266JR, Klipgat the accused unlawfully and negligently permitted raw sewage to be disposed of in or on any land, or waterbody. Representing the state Senior State Advocate Benny Kalakgosi told the court that during the same period, the accused unlawfully and negligently committed an act, which causes significant pollution of the environment. The municipality is charged for failing to maintain the Wastewater Treatment Works, and that failure led to the untreated sewage into the environment that is likely to cause pollution to the environment.

Kalakgosi told the court that justice must be served. People were drinking dirty water, and they were exposed to pollution because of alleged negligence of people with authority. The National Prosecuting Authority is committed to protecting the community and ensuring that justice is served to the victims.

Issued by Sivenathi Gunya, NPA: Communications Officer: North West Division, 18 September 2024