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NMB Refuses To Publicly Disclose River Water Quality Results

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Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigate the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s refusal to publicly disclose river water quality results. This refusal is particularly concerning given reports that contamination levels have consistently exceeded prescribed limits, posing a health and safety hazard to residents.

High levels of contamination in river water create significant health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. Nelson Mandela Bay’s rivers are used for fishing, swimming, and recreation, exposing users to harmful pollutants and toxins.

The municipality’s refusal is a clear violation of two fundamental constitutional rights: the right to a protected environment and the right to access information. By withholding this information, the municipality is not only failing to prevent pollution and ecological degradation but also depriving residents of their right to know about the state of their environment.

We have, therefore, written to the SAHRC to investigate this matter, to ensure that the health and well-being of Nelson Mandela Bay residents are protected and prioritised.

The decision not to disclose the results follows a meeting of the Public Health Portfolio Committee on 19 February, where officials announced that the results would only be made available through a formal application process under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), which can take up to 30 days.

The municipality conducts weekly tests on bacteriological levels in the Swartkops, Chatty, Baakens, and Papenkuils Rivers, which are presented to the committee monthly or bi-monthly. Most of the pollution stems from sewage spills, stormwater drains, and wastewater treatment facilities – all components of municipal infrastructure. Therefore, the municipality bears primary responsibility for this pollution.

In the interim, the DA will not forsake our residents and will publish all the water quality results on our DA Nelson Mandela Bay Facebook page.

We stand for transparency and good governance and will continue to fight for the constitutional rights of residents, especially concerning matters that may pose health risks.

The DA is in your corner, fighting for you. Together we can get NMB working again.

Regards

Cllr Mthokozisi Nkosi
DA NMB Spokesperson for Public Health

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