Statement by Cllr Minette Bosman – DA Sundays River Valley Caucus:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges as an ecological and public health disaster looms in Addo, where an excessive sewage spill has affected the Valencia area, home to 6,500 residents.
The crisis has persisted since at least 25 March and the spill has now reached critical levels and constitutes a serious health hazard to residents and the broader community. It creates conditions conducive to the spread of disease and also poses a significant environmental risk. Additionally, the sewage spill has interfered with local businesses, as access routes are obstructed or rendered unsafe due to the overflow, and trapped many residents in their homes.
Despite repeated reports by DA councillors and the community, the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality has failed to act. It has not repaired the broken sewerage pumps timeously, if at all. It has also failed to contain or stop the spill, clean up affected areas, or protect residents’ health and safety.
The DA therefore had no option but to lay criminal charges against the Municipal Manager at the Kirkwood Police Station on 16 April 2026 for violating the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).
Laying criminal charges was the only recourse, as NEMA places a duty of care on any person or authority who causes, has caused, or may cause significant pollution or degradation of the environment to take reasonable measures to prevent such pollution or degradation from occurring, continuing, or recurring. The act also provides that the party responsible for producing the pollution must also be responsible for paying for the damage done to the natural environment. Those found guilty face fines or imprisonment.
The DA remains committed to serving Addo’s residents and holding accountable those who violate their right to healthy and dignified living conditions.
We will not allow the health and livelihoods of our people to be put at risk and will fight to ensure that environmental crimes do not go unpunished.