AfriForum welcomes repair of sewage leak in Eco Park after months of delay
AfriForum’s Sasolburg branch welcomes the repair of the serious sewage leak that until recently plagued the Bongani Mabaso Eco Park Nature Reserve in Sasolburg and resulted in serious water pollution. Following AfriForum’s urgent letter to the Metsimaholo Local Municipality on 20 May 2025, the leak was finally repaired this month, and the overflow of raw sewage into dams in the reserve and surrounding areas was put to an end.
For several months, sewage flowing from a manhole in the reserve has been contaminating water sources that serve as drinking places for the reserve’s wildlife. This contamination also posed a risk to the wider ecosystem and community, as the contaminated water flowed into The View on Vaal Resort (formerly known as Abrahamsrust) and ultimately the Vaal River, a critical water source for the region.
According to Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River, the organisation is pleased that the authorities have finally taken action but believes there is still reason to remain vigilant. “We appreciate that the municipality has carried out the necessary repairs, but this problem has dragged on for too long and caused serious damage to the environment. We hope that the repairs that have been carried out will not only be sustainable, but that the municipality will now also prioritise preventive maintenance to prevent similar disasters.”
AfriForum is currently monitoring the situation to ensure that the sewerage system in Eco Park does not fail again. The organisation emphasises that the protection of water resources and the environment is the legal and moral responsibility of the municipality, as stipulated by Section 24 of the Constitution, the National Environmental Management Act and the National Water Act.
“Communities should not bear the consequences of poor municipal governance. We will continue applying pressure where necessary to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again,” Pretorius concludes.
