Criminal charges were laid against top officials of the Makhado Municipality and Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) on July 16 in terms of the National Water Act.

DA Councillor Brian du Plooy opened a case at the Makhado Police Station and laid charges against Makhado Municipal Manager Shadrack Tshikalange and Technical Director Thivho Ralulimi, as well as VDM’s Municipal Manager and Technical Director, Messrs Muthotho Sigidi and Nnyadzini Tshivhengwa.

The two criminal charges concern the pollution and detrimental affecting of water resources. Local police spokesperson Capt Maano Sadiki confirmed on July 27 that case number CAS336/7/2010 had been opened and that the case had been taken to the Public Prosecutor.

The DA laid the charges in terms of Section 151 (1), subsections (i) and (j), under “Offences” in the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998.

The Act states that no person may unlawfully and intentionally or negligently commit any act or omission which pollutes or is likely to pollute a water resource (i) or detrimentally affects or is likely to affect a water resource (j).

Cllr Du Plooy said on July 27 that the DA had decided on this route of action, following a high-profile visit of DA shadow ministers to the Vhembe District and Louis Trichardt in April this year. The objective of the visit was, among others, to investigate longstanding water and sewage problems, including the problem in Louis Trichardt of raw sewerage running in the veldt near boreholes that supply drinking water.

“We are pressing criminal charges against individual officials because we feel that they have the responsibility in these matters. They receive the salaries and should be held accountable,” Du Plooy said. The DA are also busy with similar charges in Mpumalanga.

Before the pressing of charges was made known to the media, the Zoutpansberger interviewed Makhado Municipal Technical Director, Mr Ralulimi, on July 9. Mr Ralulimi flatly refused to provide any information in writing or print. Information was requested with regard to water, waste water treatment and waste management.

Concerning water, detailed information was asked on the implementation plan regarding the upgrading and maintenance of water supply and water treatment, together with time frames and budget and progress on tender processes in each regard.

When access to any information in writing or print was refused, the reasons for the refusal was asked. “I reserve the right to give any reason,” Ralulimi said.

What followed could be described as treatment of the media in quasi-Malema style, whereby freedom to access of information was denied and questions were diverted in what appeared to be intimidation tactics.

When asked to provide a copy of water quality tests of the last two months, Ralulimi refused, despite the fact that he said on February 19 this year that he would make it a point that there would be feedback. “We are satisfied with the water quality,” Ralulimi said.

Although verbal information was provided on the waste water treatment (see p.12 of Zoutpansberger of July 16), information was not given on the maintenance of the water supply and the upgrading or replacement of water pipes.

Members of the public in Louis Trichardt are concerned about water leakages and the resultant damage to the roads, not to mention the waste of a precious commodity. The water leakage in Anderson Street at the Louis Trichardt High School has time and again come under the spotlight. Ms Sarita Botha, educator at the school and coordinator of the garden committee, said last week that the major pothole was being filled up at times but the underlying problem of the water leakage causing the trouble has not been addressed, even after a couple of years. Water has also been running for a long time on the corner of Ruh and President Street, causing a near permanent pool that damages the road.

In the residential area of Louis Trichardt east of the N1, the water supply is under severe strain and Newtown residents lack water for the greater part of the day. The construction of the second reservoir at Mowcop was stopped because the contractor was not building according to specifications. According to the municipality, tenders had gone out in the beginning of July for the completion of the reservoir.