The SA Human Rights Commission has given various government stakeholders 60 days to respond after it ruled that the continued flow of raw sewage into the Vaal River, as well as homes and public areas in the Emfuleni local municipality, was a violation of human rights, reports News24.

It had looked into the state of wastewater treatment in the area following several reports of raw sewage flowing into the Vaal River – which affected the drinking water of 45% of Gauteng's population – as well as into people's homes and the streets.

‘The commission found that the impact of the discharge, occurring over more than five years at the time of writing, violated a number of constitutional rights which includes the rights to: human dignity, freedom and security of the person, an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, not to be deprived of property, health care, food, water and social security, just administrative action and the rights of children to be protected from maltreatment and degradation,’ read its report.

The commission said it was concerned by the lack of accountability mechanisms used by the national department to address the problem.

‘Despite having the ability to do so, it did not appear to the commission that the Department of Water & Sanitation and the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries had been able to hold the municipality accountable for causing sewage pollution as required in terms of section 19 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and section 28(2) of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998,’ said the commission.

It recommended that Cabinet take a decision for national government to intervene in the running of the Emfuleni municipality.

Full News24 report