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Sewage Spill Poses Ecological and Health Disaster in Addo

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 …

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.

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Dissolution Of Makana Local Municipality Referred To The NCOP

Dear Editor Last week the Eastern Cape Legislature debated my motion to dissolve the Makana Local Municipality, which was tabled on 31 July 2025. The motion was rejected by the governing ANC, despite it being supported by all other opposition parties. I have now referred this matter to the DA’s Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and …

Dear Editor

Last week the Eastern Cape Legislature debated my motion to dissolve the Makana Local Municipality, which was tabled on 31 July 2025. The motion was rejected by the governing ANC, despite it being supported by all other opposition parties.

I have now referred this matter to the DA’s Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) at the National Council of Provinces, Igor Scheurkogel MP, as well as to Henni Britz MP, DA NCOP Member from the Eastern Cape. Hon Britz will table a motion in the House to demand that the municipality be dissolved. This will ensure that the matter is placed on record at national level.

My motion in the Eastern Cape Legislature highlighted several indisputable facts, which included the following:

  • The municipality has received a disclaimer from the Auditor-General for the past five consecutive years.
  • In the past five years alone, accumulated irregular expenditure, unauthorised expenditure, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure have topped R5,25 billion.
  • The James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works upgrade, intended to double Makhanda’s water capacity, has ballooned from R160 million to over R600 million, yet it remains only partially functional with no confirmed completion date.
  • Two attempts to dissolve the municipality have stalled on appeal, and multiple petitions and protests by civic society, faith leaders, political organisations and residents have been ignored by the ANC leadership.

Makana meets the threshold for mandatory intervention under Section 139 (5) of the Constitution and Section 136 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, having demonstrated persistent financial failure and a complete inability to provide basic services as required under Section 152 of the Constitution.

Despite this, the ANC retaliated by saying that Makana is improving, and dissolving the municipality now would be tantamount to performing an abortion on all the good work done. They therefore rejected the motion “with the contempt it deserves”.

The reality is that they have rejected the people of Makana with contempt. Residents are left with sewage in their gardens. Businesses are forced to buy water just to stay afloat. Women and children are vulnerable to attacks in dark streets. Schools, universities, hospitals, and prisons struggle to access basic necessities like water.

The people of Makana deserve better. They deserve a DA government with a proven track record of fiscal discipline, excellent service delivery, and capable, competent administrators.

Regards

Jane Cowley MPL
DA Frontier Constituency Leader

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SAHRC Recommends Makana Dissolution

Dear Editor The DA has written to the COGTA Portfolio Committee Chairperson to haul the ANC-led Makana Municipality before Committee, as its leadership is adamant about driving the municipality in to the ground. Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Municipal Manager Mpumelelo Kate have been subpoenaed twice by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) within the …

Dear Editor

The DA has written to the COGTA Portfolio Committee Chairperson to haul the ANC-led Makana Municipality before Committee, as its leadership is adamant about driving the municipality in to the ground.

Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Municipal Manager Mpumelelo Kate have been subpoenaed twice by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) within the space of a year, following no demonstrable plans to restore service delivery to residents.

The extent of the ANC’s failure in Makana has resulted in the SAHRC recommending its dissolution. The Human Rights Commission has gone so far as finding that only ousting the current government and re-electing a new government has any hope of turning things around.

It is appalling that the ANC has disregarded residents and a Chapter 9 Institution.

My request to the Portfolio Chair is for the Mayor and Municipal Manager to explain:

  • Why they have still not complied with the SAHRC’s orders, despite national and provincial support;
  • What contingency plans, if any, exist to immediately restore service delivery to residents; and
  • How the Committee can intervene to support the residents of Makana.

The DA will not allow for residents of Makana to remain hostages of inept cadres. The time has come for real accountability and consequences.

Regards

Marina van Zyl MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs

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Blue Crane Route residents in danger

Dear Editor A severe shortage of ambulances in the Blue Crane Route Municipality has left tens of thousands of residents vulnerable during medical emergencies. Communities in Cookhouse, Pearston, and Somerset East, where nearly 40 000 people live, rely on a single operational ambulance even though at least three are required. Every delay in transport raises …

Dear Editor

A severe shortage of ambulances in the Blue Crane Route Municipality has left tens of thousands of residents vulnerable during medical emergencies.

Communities in Cookhouse, Pearston, and Somerset East, where nearly 40 000 people live, rely on a single operational ambulance even though at least three are required. Every delay in transport raises the risk of death, worsens outcomes for critically ill patients, and endangers mothers in labour.

The DA has written to the MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, urging her to act without delay.

I have requested the MEC to ensure that all out-of-service vehicles are promptly repaired and returned to service within strict time frames. I also called for every ambulance on the road to be roadworthy and fully equipped with essential medical gear.

The Department must move swiftly to fill critical staffing vacancies in Emergency Medical Services, accompanied by a credible recruitment and retention plan that rewards skilled professionals for remaining in the public sector. Finally, I have called on the MEC to strengthen security measures for crews and vehicles so that paramedics can enter high-risk areas without fear for their safety.

The DA is also running a petition demanding that more ambulances be dispatched to the Blue Crane Route Municipality. The petition has garnered over 1 000 signatures and counting.

Departmental records show that the province requires a fleet of 650 ambulances, yet only 439 are available. Almost 190 of these vehicles are out of service because of mechanical faults and lengthy repair times.

Without reliable emergency cover, rural families in Blue Crane Route watch loved ones deteriorate while transport is arranged.

The Constitution guarantees the right to access health care services, including emergency treatment. Failing to meet this duty places the provincial government in breach of its legal obligations. Rural communities deserve the same level of care as those living near major hospitals in larger towns.

Residents of Blue Crane Route cannot afford to wait months for help. Ensuring timely emergency medical care is a constitutional obligation.

The people of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that delivers and a future built on dignity, opportunity, and honest government.

Regards

Dr Malcolm Figg MPL
DA Zuurberg Constituency Leader

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