MOKOPANE, LIMPOPO — The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is escalating its intervention in the Limpopo province by taking the Mogalakwena Municipality to court over persistent and unresolved sewage spillages. The legal action comes amid a surge in service delivery complaints from residents who say failing sewer infrastructure is causing severe environmental damage and posing major health risks across the region.
For years, communities in Mokopane and Mahwelereng have raised alarms about malfunctioning sanitation systems. The civic organization Mahalaku, also known as the Mogalakwena Concerned & Affected Communities, has registered numerous complaints regarding unattended waste spills. Rebecca Selomo, a representative for the civic group, noted that temporary fixes have proven entirely ineffective. Selomo expressed deep frustration that the litigation process has dragged on for roughly five years without bringing relief to the affected communities, demanding urgent justice for residents still suffering from recurring, foul-smelling outbreaks.
The ongoing sanitation crisis has also dealt a tangible blow to the local economy. Residents report that the sewage is negatively impacting daily life and commerce. One local storage facility owner noted that the business is losing a significant number of customers simply because the overwhelming smell of raw sewage makes the premises unbearable.
Victor Mavhidula, the SAHRC Provincial Manager, emphasized that the municipality’s prolonged failure to address the sewage crisis constitutes a direct violation of constitutional human rights. While the commission awaits a finalized court date, Mavhidula highlighted the critical intersection of the sanitation crisis and Women’s Month. He pointed out that women predominantly bear the burden of household cleaning and management; therefore, forcing communities to live amidst raw sewage disproportionately strips women of their dignity and basic rights.
Addressing the mounting allegations, Mogalakwena Municipality Mayor Ngoako Taueatsoala acknowledged the specific areas struggling with sewer spillages and insisted the local government is actively tackling the challenges. Taueatsoala attributed some of the recent service delivery backlogs to a three-week unprotected industrial action by municipal workers. With the labor dispute now resolved and staff back on duty, the mayor urged residents to actively report any new sewage outbreaks in their neighborhoods so the municipality can address them as a matter of urgency.
