ActionSA has announced that it intends to file criminal charges against the City of Cape Town (CoCT) due to the continued discharge of raw sewage into the ocean via its Marine Outfall Pipes.
Also read: Cape Town ordered to hold public hearings on sewage being pumped into the sea
According to the organisation, the decision follows the City’s responses to ActionSA’s request for information, which revealed the City’s ‘unlawful non-compliance with the stipulated requirements outlined in the Hout Bay Marine Outfall Permit issued in 2019’. This means that the City violates the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act.
‘The CoCT failed to adhere to critical provisions outlined in the permit, notably with regard to effluent quantity and quality monitoring, consistently surpassing both the permitted quantity and quality thresholds. Importantly, non-compliance with these monitoring requirements constitutes a criminal offence under the requirements of the permit,’ said ActionSA in a statement.
‘Additionally, the CoCT has neglected its duty of care regarding the requisite reporting stipulated in the permit. Furthermore, it has failed to establish a statutory Permit Advisory Forum and has not submitted an effluent improvement plan within the stipulated one-year timeframe following the permit’s issuance.’
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The party says the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has also ‘fallen short of its responsibilities’ by not establishing a Compliance Review Committee as mandated in paragraph 13 of the permit. This action would have monitored adherence to the permit conditions.
‘We previously underscored the significant impact of the City’s continuous discharge of raw sewage into the ocean on the environment, public health and tourism economy. Shockingly, we have now been presented with clear evidence of the City and National Departments’ culpability in this matter.
‘It is both alarming and disheartening to discover that these entrusted authorities are directly contributing to the devastation of marine life and the potential risks to public health.
‘In light of the above-mentioned, ActionSA will pursue all available avenues to hold the City and National Department accountable for their negligible non-compliance with the permit requirements.’
ActionSA joined in on the first public participation meeting which was held in Simons Town on 4 October. It noted that the meeting faced a delayed start as community members encountered a locked community hall upon arrival and City officials arrived late.
The public participation meetings were ordered following a successful appeal lodged with Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and ActionSA.
Residents are urged to attend public meetings and submit written comments, objections and representations.
Here are the scheduled dates for the remainder of October:
- 12 October 2023 at the Rocklands Civic Centre at 5pm.
- 24 October 2023 at the Sea Point Hall at 5pm.
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Also read:
Plans to stop raw sewage being pumped into the sea off Cape Town
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