14.08.2025
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ACDP opens a criminal case against City of Mbombela

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  • Residents of KaMajika Village near Hazyview in Mpumalanga collect water from the Kambeni River.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)  in the City of Mbombela, Mpumalanga, has opened a criminal case against the municipality for allegedly polluting water resources. This action follows growing concerns over raw sewage spillage into rivers and canals in White River.

The problem is attributed to the dysfunctional waste water treatment plant. It is alleged that the municipality paid a contractor about R17 million to upgrade the plant two years ago. The contractor is reported to have abandoned the project.

ACDP Councillor Suzette Mouton says residents and farmers are being exposed to waterborne diseases.

“We’ve had enough of municipality not solving the problem on a permanent basis and this is why we’ve opened up the case in consultation with our national structure. The case has been registered at the White River Police Station and it will be transferred to the eco-scorpions for them to further investigate and then take up the criminal case against the municipality as soon as they’ve got enough evidence and they’ve gone through the process of building a case against the municipality. We will not sit with Cholera outbreaks or the larger outbreaks because our municipality is not seriously taking the councillors as well as the community.”

Meanwhile, the City of Mbombela has acknowledged the water challenge being faced by White River residents.

The city’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, has, however, dismissed suggestions that R17 million was paid to a contractor for the refurbishment of the water Treatment Plant.

“He was appointed for R17 million, of which R9 million was paid. Material was bought, but he ran into his own financial troubles and seeded the project. We are now bringing a new contractor who will be starting on Monday next week. The contractor will then finish the work left by the previous contractor. We have also brought in environmental specialists to look at issues of rehabilitation of the area that the spillage occurred,” says Ngala.

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