Water and Sanitation deputy minister gets cold shoulder from Sol Plaatje officials

THE DEPUTY Minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Sello Seitlholo, has placed the blame for the environmental disaster at Kamfers Dam and the failing Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works (HWWTP) squarely on the shoulders of the Sol Plaatje Municipality.

During an oversight visit to Kimberley this week, Seitlholo did not mince his words as he criticised the municipality’s continued inaction in addressing sewage pollution and water quality concerns.

The Sol Plaatje executive mayor, municipal manager and members of the mayoral committee were noticeably absent during site inspections on July 22. 

While the municipality explained that executive mayor Martha Bartlett was experiencing “health issues”, the DA pointed out that she was seen in Ward 1 at the time, where special votes were being cast in the closely contested by-election.

Seitlholo stated that he was being subjected to “childish behaviour” and a lack of respect from municipal officials who were expected to act professionally.

“It is not the first time that mayors have failed to attend oversight visits because I am a DA member,” he said, expressing disappointment over what he viewed as a deliberate political snub.

“The municipality cannot give DWS an attitude and expect handouts without meeting us halfway. How are we supposed to help if the mayor, municipal manager and mayoral committee behave in this fashion?”

Seitlholo indicated that he would be lodging formal complaints with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the Northern Cape Premier.

Seitlholo claimed that animosity and tensions were also evident between the regional DWS office and Sol Plaatje Municipality.

“I have never seen anything like it. Officials must put their emotions and political interests aside and attend to their responsibilities. If there is beef, it must be grilled and eaten.” 

He added that while the city engineer, Blessing Mukosi, and the chief director of infrastructure, Walter Jood — the only two officials who accompanied the delegation on the walkabout — were capable of addressing the challenges, they lacked the authority to make executive decisions.

He attributed the ongoing dysfunction at HWWTP and the worsening pollution at Kamfers Dam to “a lack of political and administrative will”.

“DWS and Cogta cannot do it - it is the responsibility of the municipality. You cannot destroy an entire ecosystem and get away with it. It will take years to rehabilitate. Nature has a way of recovering, but the source of pollution caused by the dysfunctional HTWWP must first be removed.” 

Seitlholo advised that industries, mines and abattoirs should be charged a levy for dumping by-products into Kamfers Dam.

“Waste, blood, fatty deposits, agricultural run-off and acid mine drainage are being discharged into the water system. If the effluent is not properly treated, DWS will not allow it to enter the Vaal River. Kamfers Dam is overwhelmed with 15 million litres of water that is being discharged into the pan daily. The municipality will have to find someone else to dispose of the excess water if it fails to comply.”

He said the municipal manager had informed him that the municipality was “technically bankrupt”.

“The municipality needs R106 million to get HWWTP functional again, while it only received R30 million from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant. No amount of money is going to fix this if there is no political will. Nothing will change if there is no administrative leadership.”  

Seitlholo recommended that the municipality address water losses, which currently exceed 50%.

“The R117 million per annum in lost revenue can be redirected to fix the HWWTP,” he said.

He also noted that the city had lost R3.5 billion in revenue over the past five years due to the flooded Transnet railway line.

“Mines have had to make alternative arrangements to transport minerals. while the city is losing out on local economic growth opportunities and jobs.”

He indicated that new amendments would be made to water regulations to hold officials personally liable for failing to attend to their duties.

“We want to see individuals behind bars if they do not implement corrective measures.” 

Seitlholo believed that poor governance and maladministration were key factors behind the municipality’s failure to deliver basic services.

In response, municipal manager Thapelo Matlala denied that the deputy minister had been snubbed.

“I attended the formal meeting with the South African Local Government Association. The city engineer for Water and Sanitation, a member of the mayoral committee (MMC) and the chief director for Infrastructure accompanied the deputy minister on the site visits. The mayor could not attend due to a health issue and arranged for the MMC to attend. The municipality was represented by both the administration and the political office.  Although the MMC joined the meeting late, the municipal manager and the technical team attended the meeting,” said Matlala.

He added that the municipality was confronted by ageing infrastructure, vandalism and theft and required financial assistance from the DWS to address the sanitation issues.

“A business plan was submitted, and we are committed to working with the DWS,” Matlala stated.