The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is pressing for the enforcement of the court order against the Dipaleseng Local Municipality regarding service delivery.
Residents should not have to bear the brunt of poor governance, inadequate service delivery and environmental decline.
On 15 November 2024, the Balfour Magistrates’ Court found the Municipality guilty of serious environmental offences, including discharging untreated sewage and polluted water into rivers, dams and surrounding areas over the course of years.
The judgment included the imposition of a R160 million fine on the Municipality, R40 million of which is suspended for five years.
The Court, furthermore, instructed that the money should be used to repair and upgrade the sewage works in Balfour, Grootvlei and Greylingstad, to improve the Siyathemba pump station, and to bring the three towns’ landfill sites up to standard.
The funds are provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation, offering an opportunity to repair infrastructure, curb pollution and improve service delivery.
So, the court order is much more than just a punitive measure. It serves as a turnaround plan to remedy the environmental damage, prevent further pollution, and protect residents’ right to proper sewage, water and waste services.
A progress report tabled during a council meeting on 28 October 2026 shows, however, that several of the court order’s requirements are still not being complied with.
Landfill sites still do not have the required weighbridges, sewage effluent is not properly tested, inspections are carried out by persons who lack the necessary training, and mandatory progress reports are not submitted.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, this failure not only delays the repair of critical infrastructure, but also puts the Municipality at risk of forfeiting the suspended R40 million of the fine. This could, ultimately, be even more detrimental to residents who are already bearing the consequences of poor service delivery.
The Freedom Front Plus has, therefore, requested the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to enforce the court order and, if necessary, consider taking further legal steps to ensure that the relevant officials are held accountable for continued non-compliance.
The Freedom Front Plus’s position is clear: The available funds should be used for their intended purpose, the court order must be fully complied with, and residents should have access to functioning sewage systems, clean water and proper waste management.
Dipaleseng residents deserve more than empty promises and excuses. They deserve a municipality that fulfils its legal obligations, protects the environment and reliably delivers services to its communities.
