TLU SA has taken note of the R160 million fine imposed by the court on the Dipaleseng Local Municipality for serious violations of environmental and water laws. While this may seem like a victory for environmental justice on paper, the reality is simple: the true culprits will not be punished.
The Dipaleseng Local Municipality was fined R160 million in the Balfour Magistrate’s Court for severe breaches of the National Environmental Management Act and the National Water Act. Between December 2018 and August 2023, the municipality caused significant environmental damage by discharging untreated sewage into water sources and surrounding areas.
An investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Affairs, and Environmental Affairs, as well as the Department of Water and Sanitation, led to the court case. The municipality pleaded guilty and reached a plea agreement. The court imposed a fine of R160 million, of which R40 million was suspended for five years, provided no further similar offences occur during this time.
The extent of the damage caused by the municipality’s negligence is shocking—polluted rivers, poisoned soil, and livestock losses have heavily impacted local communities. This kind of mismanagement not only destroys our natural resources but also the lives of ordinary people who depend on these resources.
“But what does this fine really mean? It’s the community’s money, their hard-earned taxes, that will now be used to pay for the municipality’s transgressions,” says Ronnie Schilling, Eastern Region Manager. “Meanwhile, the actual culprits remain untouched, facing no consequences.”
TLU SA believes that such violations must be addressed decisively. We call for mechanisms to be established to hold the culprits directly accountable—whether they are individuals within the municipality or contractors involved in this negligence. Fines paid using public funds do not punish those truly responsible.
“It is time for us to take collective responsibility to protect our environment. We cannot afford for poor management and a lack of accountability to persist while our resources, the foundation of our future, are being destroyed,” Schilling concludes.
