
10/07/2025
SDM given 14 days to fix Marble Hall water and sanitation woes
MARBLE HALL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM) has given the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Executive Mayor, Cllr Minah Bahula and her administration a 14 days ultimatum to address the escalating water and sanitation crisis in Marble Hall.
The issues, which were raised by DA plaguing Marble Hall include 29 hectares of farmland which they say it is contaminated by raw sewage due to infrastructure collapse, residents hospitalised with E.coli infections from sewage contamination, complete sewage treatment facility breakdown with raw waste potentially flowing into river systems, non-functional hydrants due to inadequate water pressure, a compromise emergency services and persistent sewage spills flooding residential properties with no adequate response.
According to the party, failure to address these problems will prompt the DA to request constitutional interventions, citing the municipality's inability to deliver on its mandate.
DA Councillor in EPMLM, Flip Jacobs, expressed his outrage over the situation, stating: "The SDM Executive Mayor and her team are living lavish lifestyles, completely disconnected from the desperate plight of residents. Marble Hall deserves better."
According to Jacobs, the crisis has been ongoing for some time, with residents facing life-threatening conditions due to the municipality's neglect.
"Despite multiple formal requests, documented proposals, and direct engagements from the DA, the municipality has failed to act, leaving residents exposed to severe public health risks," Jacobs said.
Jacobs further criticised the SDM Executive Mayor and her team for ignoring formal requests, breaking commitments, and showing disrespect for rates and taxpayers.
"The DA will not allow this injustice to continue. We will request constitutional interventions if the municipality fails to address this crisis within the given timeframe," Jacobs warned.
Smalle stressed that the DA has called on the SDM Executive Mayor Bahula, and her administration to take immediate action to address the crisis and communicate with residents.
“The party's ultimatum expires in 14 days, after which further action will be taken. We will not stand idly by while residents suffer. Marble Hall deserves better, and we will fight for their rights," Jacobs concluded.
When approached for a response, Lemson Moropjane, SDM Spokesperson, said: "Regarding the recent sewage spillage in our area, the Municipality would like to clarify that a sewer blockage was reported and addressed some weeks ago. Although the pipeline was unblocked, some sewage did overflow into nearby farmland. Fortunately, we have not received any reports of infections.
Moropjane indicated that the district municipality appointed a contractor to refurbish the treatment works, which will help alleviate the issue.
However, he highlighted that the majority of the witnessed spillage is attributed to poor designs of storm-water controls linked to the sewage system.
“We are currently engaging with local municipalities to improve storm-water management,” he said.
Moropjane informed that another contributing factor to the overload on the system is the conversion of residential properties into rental properties, which exceeds the designed capacity.
“This is a matter that requires local municipalities to properly manage property development,” he said.