Update
KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Municipality has accepted responsibility and remains committed to corrective action following the verdict imposed by the Knysna Regional Court for multiple environmental law violations linked to years of sewage pollution flowing into rivers and the Knysna estuary.
Knysna-Plett Herald reported yesterday that the municipality was handed a R10m fine, which was suspended on condition that the municipality conducts certain emergency repairs and environmental rehabilitation projects within agreed deadlines.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the charges stemmed from sewage spills and failures at municipal infrastructure which negatively impacted the environment and nearby communities.
In a press statement issued after the ruling, Acting Municipal Manager Boy Manqoba Ngubo confirmed that the municipality had admitted guilt and entered into a plea and sentence agreement relating to several environmental contraventions.
Ngubo said the agreement covers five counts of contravening the National Environmental Management Act, four counts under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, one count under the Environmental Conservation Act, and one count under the National Water Act.
He acknowledged that the matter reflected “serious shortcomings” in environmental management and infrastructure compliance, but said the municipality viewed the ruling as an opportunity to strengthen systems and accelerate infrastructure upgrades.
“We remain fully committed to corrective action, accountability, and long-term environmental rehabilitation,” he said, emphasising that the municipality would ensure corrective measures are implemented “effectively and transparently”.
The municipality has committed about R630m over the next five years towards the environmental recovery projects and improvements to wastewater and sewerage infrastructure.
The investment, according to Ngubo, is aimed at addressing environmental compliance obligations, rehabilitating affected areas, and improving the sustainability and reliability of critical infrastructure to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Agreement conditions
The municipality has agreed to include implementing long-term action plans for Wastewater Treatment and Sewerage Works within agreed timeframes, finalising the Maintenance Management Plan for the Bigai River Flood Plan by 30 June this year, and submitting monthly progress reports to an appointed environmental officer and the provincial head of criminal investigation at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
As part of the court order, the municipality has been instructed to repair the waste treatment facility near the Knysna harbour, install lockable manhole covers along the Bigai River and clean informal settlements situated along riverbanks.
Further long-term interventions ordered by the court include the construction of two new waste treatment plants and the procurement of new vehicles and equipment by 2030.
In addition, the municipality must submit detailed compliance status reports, with the first due by 1 July.
Ngubo said consequence management processes would also be enforced where necessary to ensure accountability and improved governance. “We are committed to working collaboratively with regulatory authorities, stakeholders and communities to restore environmental integrity and maintain compliance with all applicable environmental legislation,” he said.
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