This is according to Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Responding to concerns raised by the EFF over sewage spillages which have become a health hazard to the communities of Schweizer-Reneke, Sisulu says the district municipality has put in short-term interventions to address issues in the area. 

These include the unblocking of sewerage lines and attending to electrical backlogs at the Ipeleng Sewerage Pumping Station. Sisulu confirms in a written reply, while these are not enough, long-term interventions are underway to refurbish the sewerage system in the local municipality and to upgrade bulk water supply.

Her response regarding the state of water and sanitation in the local municipality comes just a month after the district municipality made headlines when the Hawks made arrests in connection with the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.

The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality is amongst the four North West municipalities that lost billions through their investment in the now liquidated bank.

A report titled "The Great Bank Heist" by advocate Terry Motau illustrated how billions were looted from the bank and how at least 20 municipalities’ investments with the bank were contrary to the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA), as VBS Mutual Bank was not registered as a bank in terms of the Banks Act.

Of the North West municipalities, it was found that the Madibeng Local Municipality invested R31 million of their conditional grant, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality invested R150 million, the Moretele Local Municipality invested R50 million from their water services infrastructure grant and the Mahikeng Municipality invested over R83 million.

OFM News