R650 million fine for Emalahleni Municipality after raw sewage floods environment
Witbank Dam which is located on the polluted Olifants River. This week the municipality pleaded guilty to several environmental offences. Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency(ANA)
Image: Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency(ANA)
The Emalahleni Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been fined a staggering R650million after it pleaded guilty to several environmental offences, which included the unauthorised disposal of waste.
The municipality pleaded guilty to negligently causing severe environmental pollution by allowing untreated sewage effluent to overflow from municipal sewer manholes into the environment between March 2019 and March 2025 the municipality
The National Prosecuting Authority said the wastewater was discharged into a tributary of the Olifants River, in direct contravention of the conditions of its Water Use License issued under Section 28 of the National Water Act.
"This negligence resulted in the discharge of raw, untreated sewage into several areas, including Ferroglobe Silicon Smelters, Witbank Dam, the Naawpoort River, Steenkoolspruit, the Klein Olifants River, and ultimately the Olifants River," said NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
She said following numerous community complaints about water pollution, investigations were launched by the Green Scorpions (Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs) and the Blue Scorpions (Department of Water and Sanitation).
The NPA said the municipality entered into a plea and sentence agreement.
"During sentencing, State Advocate Beauty Cibangu stressed the gravity of the offences, noting their devastating impact on the ecosystem and public health.
"She highlighted that such pollution leads to severe health risks, environmental degradation, and economic losses to affected communities."
The NPA said they were fined R650 million or ten years imprisonment.
A total of R150 million was suspended for a period of three years.
The NPA said the court ordered that the Municipality utilise R500 million of the imposed fine for the rehabilitation and urgent repair of all identified wastewater infrastructure by April 2031.
By March next year poof of expenditure and comprehensive technical and environmental rehabilitation reports must be submitted to the relevant departments.
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