Question NW3034 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
02 October 2023 - NW3034
Phillips, Ms C to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether, in light of the water shortage in the Bojanala district, he will furnish Mrs C Phillips with a copy of the water use licence of a certain company (name and details furnished), which applied for environmental authorisation in terms of section 24G(1) of the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998, as amended, for an unlawful development of a chrome wash plant on Portion 71 of Farm Groenkloof 464-JQ in Madibeng Local Municipality, North West; if not, (a) why not and (b) what actions will he take against the company for not being in possession of a valid water use licence; if so, on what date?
Reply:
a) According to the records of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), there is no authorisation that has been issued for water use activities associated with a chrome wash plant located on Portion 71 of Farm Groenkloof 464-JQ in Madibeng Local Municipality, North West.
The DWS has taken steps to address the alleged unlawful development of a chrome wash plant on Portion 71 of Farm Groenkloof 464-JQ and has taken the following actions:
- Site investigation was conducted on 19 September 2023
- The DWS is in the process of issuing a Notice of Intention to issue a Directive in terms of National Water Act to the company responsible for the unlawful water use through development of the chrome wash plant.
b) Further administrative action to be taken and compliance with the stipulated timeframe will be guided by the response of the owners of the chrome wash plant. Should the owners of this wash plant fail to comply with the prescripts of the Notice to be issued by DWS, the Department will proceed with further enforcement actions.
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