News24 | R650m fine after Emalahleni municipality admits allowing sewage to flow into rivers, dams

The Emalahleni Local Municipality admitted that it had negligently allowed untreated sewage to flow into dams and rivers.

• The Emalahleni Local Municipality has been fined R650 million for environmental transgressions.
• It admitted that it had negligently allowed untreated sewage to flow into dams and rivers.
• The municipality has to use R500 million of the imposed fine for the rehabilitation and urgent repair of all identified wastewater infrastructure by April 2031.

The Mpumalanga High Court has fined the Emalahleni Local Municipality R650 million after it pleaded guilty to several environmental offences in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the National Water Act.

The fine was imposed after the municipality admitted that it had negligently allowed untreated sewage to flow into dams and rivers.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the municipality was found guilty of the unauthorised disposal of waste, failure to comply with Water Use Licence conditions, causing significant environmental pollution, pollution of water resources, noncompliance with ecological authorisation, and failure to comply with compliance notices and directives.

“Between March 2019 and March 2025, the municipality negligently caused severe environmental pollution by allowing untreated sewage effluent to overflow from municipal sewer manholes into the environment. The wastewater was discharged into a tributary of the Olifants River, in direct contravention of the conditions of its Water Use Licence, issued under Section 28 of the National Water Act,” said Nyuswa.

“This negligence resulted in the discharge of raw, untreated sewage into several areas, including Ferroglobe Silicon Smelters, Witbank Dam, the Naauwpoort River, Steenkoolspruit, the Klein Olifants River, and ultimately the Olifants River.”

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Following numerous community complaints about water pollution, investigations were launched by the Green Scorpions, and their findings led to the municipality being prosecuted.

“In court, the municipality, represented by its municipal manager, entered into a plea-and-sentence agreement with the State,” said Nyuswa.

“During sentencing, State advocate Beauty Cibangu stressed the gravity of the offences, noting their devastating impact on the ecosystem and public health. She highlighted that such pollution leads to severe health risks, environmental degradation, and economic losses to affected communities.”

The court imposed a fine of R650 million or 10 years’ imprisonment, of which R150 million or three years’ imprisonment was suspended for five years on condition that the municipality use R500 million of the imposed fine for the rehabilitation and urgent repair of all identified wastewater infrastructure by April 2031.

“The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the finalisation of this matter and reaffirms its commitment to prosecuting environmental crimes without fear, favour, or prejudice. Offences of this nature contribute to climate change, water contamination, and air pollution, posing serious risks to both the environment and public health,” said Nyuswa.

News24 was unable to reach the municipality at the time of publication. Its response will be added once received.