Dipaleseng Local Municipality, covering the town of Balfour in Mpumalanga, was hit with a R160 million environmental fine — the second-largest ever imposed on a South African municipality, after Emalahleni's R650 million fine. The penalty was for six consecutive years of sewage spills into local rivers from non-functional wastewater treatment works.
The municipality's sewage infrastructure has been non-functional for years. Raw and partially treated sewage flows into rivers that downstream communities depend on for water and agriculture. Compliance notices issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment were acknowledged but never acted upon.
The R160 million fine, combined with the R650 million fine on neighbouring Emalahleni, signals an emerging enforcement strategy by national government: using environmental fines as a lever to force municipal accountability. However, the fundamental problem remains — municipalities that cannot maintain R10 million worth of sewage infrastructure cannot pay R160 million in fines.
Balfour residents continue to live with the consequences: contaminated water, sewage in streets after rain, and a river system that is ecologically degraded.