DWS links Ermelo wastewater plant to widespread sewage pollution

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has linked sewage pollution in the Ermelo area to failures at the Ermelo Wastewater Treatment Works, saying poor maintenance and operational problems allowed sewage to bypass the plant’s treatment units and discharge straight into local water resources.

Deputy minister inspects damage

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom made an oversight visit to Ermelo on Monday to assess the level of pollution emanating from the wastewater works. He was accompanied by Gert Sibande District Municipality Executive Mayor Walter Mngomezulu and Msukaligwa Local Municipality Mayor Mapulane Nkosi.

What the DWS found

The DWS said its investigations showed the Ermelo plant was not authorised to engage in water uses and that poor operations and maintenance had resulted in sewage bypassing the process units so that it was discharged directly into water resources.

Areas affected

The department named local water bodies and catchments affected by untreated and poorly treated effluent, including the Pet Dam, Brummer Dam, the Vaal River Catchment and the Nels River. The DWS said the pollution has negatively affected surrounding communities and agricultural activities.

Legal and administrative action

The DWS said it had issued several directives to the municipality for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent pollution. The department also said a criminal case was laid and that the Middelburg High Court found the municipality guilty of polluting the water resources and ordered it to take corrective measures to stop the discharge of poor-quality effluent and prevent further pollution of water resources.

“A criminal case was also laid, and the Middelburg High Court found the municipality guilty of polluting the water resources and ordered it to take corrective measures to stop the discharge of poor-quality effluent and prevent further pollution of water resources,” Wisane Mavasa said.

Site visits and upgrade plans

During his visit, Bloom inspected the Breyton and Ermelo plants, Brummer Dam and affected farming areas. The source reports that in August 2025, Mayor Mapulane Nkosi officially handed over a project to a contractor to upgrade the Ermelo plant and to launch a new bulk sewer pipeline installation for Ermelo Ext 44 – Phase 1.

At that launch, Nkosi highlighted that the plant’s capacity would be expanded from 9 megalitres per day to 33 megalitres per day to meet the needs of the Msukaligwa population.

Next steps

The DWS oversight visit and the court order signal ongoing enforcement and remedial measures, while the plant upgrade and pipeline project are intended to address capacity and service issues reported at the Ermelo works.