A damaging Report by the National Public Protector (PP) that severely criticised Kouga Municipality (KM) was released online on Eastern Cape and Kouga local WA and FB groups on Friday, 3 October.
The Report gave many examples of KM’s poor performance in controlling sewage spills from Humansdorp’s KwaNomzamo Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to the Seekoei River that flows to Aston Bay and the sea. However, soon after the release of the PP’s Report, the KM widely released online a PR article (repeated here below), about its successes with the Humansdorp sewage plant in Ward 6 and revealed this plant is now complete, is functioning at full capacity, plus that its discharge is regulated.
Yet, a quick visit to the Humansdorp Sewage site vicinity the same day, as the release of the Report and KM’s PR release, on 3 October, has caused incredulity and questions as a polluted stream was visible, as this photo shows
The extremely long PP’s 3 October Report exposes five severe transgressions by Kouga Municipality (KLM):
* Sewage Pollution of Rivers and Beaches: “Effluent discharge exceeded permissible limits, contributing to contamination of nearby water sources… releasing sewage into adjacent wetlands and river systems, which ultimately feed into the Seekoei River and flow towards the Aston Bay Lagoon in contravention of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998.” The report notes “eutrophication in Aston Bay Lagoon” from sewage and KLM’s role in the “dumping of faeces by toilet rental companies near the Jeffrey’s Bay WWTW.”
* Health Hazards for Communities: “The deficiencies in wastewater treatment services infringed upon the constitutional rights of residents, particularly the rights to human dignity, a safe environment, and access to basic municipal services as enshrined in sections 10, 24, and 27.” Polar Park and Vergenoeg residents faced “uncontrolled odour” and “untreated/partially treated wastewater spillage.”
* Decade-Long Neglect: “The allegation that the functionaries of KLM did not properly maintain Jeffreys Bay and KwaNomzamo Wastewater Treatment Plants, is substantiated.” KLM ignored DFFE notices since 2019, and “response to known deficiencies was delayed… after almost a decade,” worsening environmental and health risks.
* Vandalism Due to Poor Security: “KwaNomzamo WWTP was not properly maintained… due to vandalism and cable theft.” With “only one security officer… inadequate to monitor the WWTP, especially at night,” sewage spills continued into Polar Park and the Seekoei River.
* Threat to Tourism Economy: “The sewage spillage is a health risk and a threat to the economy as the Municipality is a tourist destination.” The report cites Jeffreys Bay’s main beach sharing space with a “sewage dam,” with sewage reaching the ocean where “people are swimming.”
Following the release of the PP’s Report, the St Francis Chronicle twice asked KM for comment about the findings in the report and was twice referred instead to KM’s PR release that read in full as follows: Kouga Municipality Press Release:
“Kouga Local Municipality is proud to confirm that through continuous good governance, intentional planning and decisive actions, it could successfully turnaround the state of the KwaNomzamo and Jeffreys Bay Waste Water Treatment Plants, as these waste water infrastructures were inherited by the current administration in deplorable conditions. It is confirmed that the Plants are operating optimally. The Municipality secured an amount of R42 million under the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding to effect the extensive repairs and upgrade required for the KwaNomzamo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Despite unexpected delays experienced in approval and further setbacks during violent protests in the area in 2021, the plant has been fully upgraded and its processing capacity increased. The Municipality also effected the necessary repairs to the Jeffreys Bay Waste Water Treatment Plant and this Plant is functioning at full capacity. Its discharge is regulated under Water Use Licence No. 12/K90F/EF/4333, with effluent treated through reed bed filtration, retention ponds, and wetland buffers before entering the environment. The municipality also conducts regular monitoring of the Seekoei, and Swart Rivers to ensure water quality is adequately maintained. The official opening of the upgraded KwaNomzamo Waste Water Treatment Plant will take place on 27 October 2025, showcasing the state-of-the-art improvements delivered under accountable leadership. Owing to these interventions by the municipality, nearby communities and surrounding water sources are not affected by untreated sewage, and so in compliance to the national legislation applicable to the operations of these Plant.”
Complainant’s Account:
Freddie van Rooyen, a Jeffreys Bay resident who lodged the PP complaint, told The St Francis Chronicle: “I’ve fought sewage spills from the Jeffreys Bay and KwaNomzamo WWTPs since 2019 to protect Seekoei Estuary campers.
“I traced polluted streams to the estuary in 2016, despite KLM’s claim of ‘no sewage,’ contradicted by the PP’s finding of ‘effluent discharge exceeding limits’ (section 6.1). Kouga families faced foul odors, keeping kids indoors, per the PP’s ‘uncontrolled odour’ note (section 7.1.2).
“At a 2023 Aston Bay meeting, KLM dismissed my concerns but later admitted E-Coli levels of 15,000/100ml in July 2023. A 2016 Department of Environmental Affairs inspection noted untreated sewage in a dam, yet KLM delayed fixes for a decade, per the PP (section 7.1.4). The 3 October 2025 photos of polluted water shocked me, despite KLM’s ‘full upgrades’ claim.
“ I question their vandalism excuse and 2016–2021 actions, as the PP found no treatment chemicals. KLM’s R1.5 billion backlog is unverified. I call for transparency and compliance with PP demands like CCTV by October 2025. “
(This claim of “no impact” differs from the PP’s findings, photos, and Freddie’s account. )
NOTE: Photos taken on 3 October 2025, adjacent to the Humansdorp Sewage plant on the R330, and alongside the farm dam… See more photos at: kougchronicle.co.za
St Francis Chronicle 