Municipalities are to blame for freshwater contamination, concedes the provincial Cogta, with the DA criticising the province administration of failing to hold local institutions accountable.

Municipalities in the Eastern Cape are releasing raw sewage into rivers, damaging freshwater supplies, risking health, and harming animal and plant life.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Xolile Nqatha disclosed sewage pollution of water sources was rampant in the province in answer to written questions from Democratic Alliance MPL Vicky Knoetze.

Nqatha disclosed that the National Department of Water and Sanitation had given letters and instructions to 31 pump stations, collector systems, and wastewater treatment works (WWTW) for noncompliance (DWS).

When Knoetze asked if the department had been monitoring these alerts, Nqatha replied that it had not, but that Cogta will do so through its Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA).

According to the Division of Revenue Act, if the municipality fails to comply or rectify something, national Cogta has the authority to halt and shift the payments.