Musina residents still living with sewage despite Public Protector findings

Health-e News Musina residents still living with sewage despite Public Protector findings Residents of Matswale township in Musina say persistent sewage spills and the stench from overflowing wastewater continue to disrupt their lives, more than a year after the Public Protector found that authorities had failed to properly maintain the town’s sewage infrastructure.

The report found that Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) and Musina Local Municipality (MLM) had failed to adequately address sewage spillages in Matswale Phase 10, Ward 5.

The Public Protector also found that the resulting pollution and stench had violated residents’ constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing.

The conduct of officials from both municipalities was found to constitute improper conduct and maladministration.

More than a year later, residents in parts of Musina say they are still living with sewage flowing near their homes.

Health-e News visited Musina last week and tracked a stream of wastewater flowing from the area around Renaissance High School towards the N1.

A 34-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, says the smell has been a problem for years.

She moved into the area last year but says her family has been forced to keep their windows closed because of the stench.

“I started staying at this house last year.

The bad smell has always been there and we decided not to open the windows at all.

We do not enjoy it here,” she says.

Her house is only a short distance from the sewage flow.

Further along the stream, Health-e News met Ishamail Banda, who has lived in one of the shacks near the sewage spill since 2024.

Banda says mosquitoes are a major concern for his family.