eThekwini operating 10 wastewater treatment plants without valid licences

It has been revealed in court papers that the eThekwini Municipality is operating 10 of its wastewater treatment works without valid licences.

This is contained in a court judgment handed down by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court on Thursday.

The municipality violated several environmental laws by not dealing with sewage spills into its rivers and ocean, the court ruled.

The court application against the city was brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

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Over the past couple of years, the eThekwini Municipality has struggled with high levels of E. coli in its beaches, routinely having to close them for public safety.

The DA said that the failure to keep the beaches open has negatively impacted the city’s economy.

It blamed the municipality for failing to operate and maintain its wastewater treatment works, where most of the spills emanate.

According to the court judgement, 10 of the municipality’s wastewater plants are unlawfully operating with expired licenses.

The judgment also notes the municipality failed to provide any evidence that it was granted an extension or exemption for its licenses.

“It follows that where no such licence, authorisation, exemption or even extension has been granted, then there is a violation of NEMICM [National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act],” reads an excerpt from the judgment.

“eThekwini has conceded that some of the licences and exemptions to operate the WWTW have expired, but that the authorities concerned have agreed for them to continue operating. However, there was no confirmatory affidavit filed in support of these averments by any of the relevant authorities.”