Central SA
Emfuleni municipality taken to court over years-long sewage pollution crisis─── ZENANDE MPAME 09:08 Sun, 08 Feb 2026
After more than five years, the Emfuleni municipality will appear in court on Tuesday, 3 March, to explain why millions of litres of untreated sewage have been flowing into the Vaal River daily.
The case marks a significant moment in a long-running environmental and human rights crisis affecting communities in Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, and Vereeniging. The FF Plus lodged complaints with the Green Scorpions and police back in 2020 and requested an investigation.
At the same time, a criminal complaint was laid at the Vanderbijlpark Police Station against the then administrator. The sewage system collapsed as early as 2018 due to ongoing neglect and a lack of maintenance.
Sewage flowed freely through streets, homes, cemeteries, and roads, eventually reaching the Vaal River and its tributaries, according to the party.
“The VF Plus’ repeated warnings to the council about the serious health and environmental risks were ignored year after year,” said Emfuleni municipality FF Plus spokesperson Gerda Senekal.
“The party also brought the matter to the attention of the Human Rights Commission, which, after a thorough investigation, declared the pollution a violation of residents’ constitutional right to a healthy environment and clean water.”
The Gauteng department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs and the national department of water and sanitation have officially held Emfuleni responsible for the catastrophic pollution, said Senekal.
In response to questions posed by the DA, Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo revealed Emfuleni appointed 71 service providers to address sewage leaks during this period.
Millions spend
Expenditure exceeded R51 million in 2019/20, R24 million in 2020/21, R35 million in 2021/22, and R45 million in each of 2022/23 and 2023/24. Contractors received over R24 million and R23 million, respectively.
DA constituency head for Emfuleni North, Kingsol Chabalala, criticised the spending, saying it had failed to bring relief to residents. He further warned the DA would escalate the matter to the Human Rights Commission if urgent intervention did not follow.
In 2021, the commission found the Vaal River had been polluted beyond acceptable standards, following an investigation into the sewage that had been spilling into the river.
Emfuleni municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni acknowledged ongoing sewer challenges but insisted the municipality is working to normalise services.
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