-
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo conducted an oversight visit in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West to assess the level of water pollution in Molopo River and the state of Wastewater Treatment Plants.
The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, says they will lay more criminal charges against the Ngaka Modiri Molema District municipality in the North West for contaminating water resources.
He said this after an oversight visit to a wastewater treatment plant and the Molopo River in Mahikeng.
There have been increasing complaints about dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants and sewage spillage in some areas around the North West capital.
Seitlholo was visibly irritated that the waste treatment plant was discharging raw sewage into the Molopo River.
“It is the same action, we are already in the process now, we have already opened a criminal case it is on the Mmabatho wastewater treatment works because outside of this Mahikeng waste treatment water works Mmabatho is completely non-functional, it is not operating at all, so it means their discharge is of raw sewerage that is untreated.”
He says they are also amending the National Water Act, with the aim of introducing liability costs for high-ranking municipal officials, including mayors.
“We are introducing personal liability costs to the Mayor, to the MM and technical directors in the municipality because at this point in time when you take the municipality to court and the high court find them guilty to say you must pay the fine of R150 million and you are given 60 days to submit corrective action plans the reality is that money is born out of the rates that are being paid by municipalities on equitable shares”
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Sello Seitlholo today conducted a working oversight visit in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in Mahikeng, North West to assess the level of water pollution in Molopo river and the state of Waste Water Treatment Plants. pic.twitter.com/XA7ZZpA6v9
— COGTA (@NW_COGTA) August 18, 2025
The Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality’s Thembinkosi Mabovu acknowledged they are struggling to maintain the deteriorating water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Our infrastructure is old. If you check the entire municipality, the entire district the infrastructure is old, some 50 years. The lifespan has passed and then we really need funding to deal with our old infrastructure.”
The Department of Water and Sanitation has committed to finding ways to assist the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in its water and sanitation challenges.
VIDEO | Sewer spillages remain a daily hazard in Mahikeng:
