The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in South Africa has recently opened 36 criminal cases against 26 municipalities in the country in regard to untreated sewage pollution. According to an article by Daily Maverick, the severity of the crisis is immense, since South Africa generates more than seven billion litres of sewage every day, of which over 90% is discharged into rivers and oceans. The local Dawid Kruiper Municipality in Upington does not form part of the 26 Municipalities. Residents says, even though the Dawid Kruiper municipality does not form part of the municipalities, the situation is concerning due to aging infrastructure and poor service. Residents are calling for immediate action to address the crisis before the DWS takes further legal action. A concerned resident, Anna Jacobs expressed her anger at the situation and faulted the municipality for not doing more, she continued by saying it has become normalized to live in these dire conditions and elaborated with the following...  INSERT[Anna]    Residents says they feel this is an eye-opener and hopes for change regarding this pressing environmental and public health issue.      

Journalist: Tasha-Ree Kella
Email: tashakella13@gmail.com