Press Statement by James Masango- Spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA)
- Since 2023 Sabie has been plagued by catastrophic infrastructure failures.
- Sewage spills contributed to the pollution of freshwater and contaminated drinking water.
- DA motion calling on CoGHSTA and DWS to address this issue is successfully adopted.
4 August 2026
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga welcomes the provincial government’s decision to support our motion to address the persistent sewage crisis and poor water quality in Sabie.
In 2023, Sabie’s drinking water was seriously contaminated with E. coli, forcing residents, businesses, and tourism establishments to rely on alternative water sources.
In the midst of this outbreak, water tests were conducted by the Sabie Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, together with other stakeholders.
Key factors behind the poor drinking water quality included the collapse of the wastewater treatment works which allowed untreated sewage to enter the Sabie River, repeated sewer spills across the town, and the growing threat of illegal mining activities around the water catchment area.
However, despite the severity of the above, this issue remains till toady. In in a town that is geared towards tourism, DA in the province maintains that this is completely unacceptable.
Given the above, the DA has called on the provincial government to:
- Provide a comprehensive report from the Department of Water and Sanitation on the current microbiological status of Sabie’s drinking water.
- Give an update of all remedial measures implemented since the E. coli contamination of 2023.
- Provide a detailed report on the condition and operational status of the Sabie Wastewater Treatment Works and the municipal sewer network.
- Clear timeframes for the rehabilitation of the town’s ageing water and sewer infrastructure.
With this in mind, the DA demands an immediate investigation into the cause and a plan to stop further sewage discharge and remediate the affected areas.
The DA will continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant authorities to ensure accountability and the protection of our communities.
For media queries:
James Masango MPL
Spokesperson of CoGHSTA
082 891 0717