Green Scorpions investigate criminal case of sewage in Umbilo River

Department of forestry, fisheries and the environment inspectors are investigating a criminal case of sewage being released into the Umbilo River in KwaZulu-Natal.

Department spokesperson Peter Mbelengwa told the Mail & Guardian that a case had been opened at the Pinetown police station three months after the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

Pinetown resident Jo Jooste said she had opened the case after “the stench” from the river became unbearable and after a string of complaints to the eThekwini metro about the problem. 

“This was an ongoing thing and we have always laid complaints. We would phone eThekwini’s sewage department and they would take two or three days and come and unblock it and it would be fine. And then suddenly it was getting worse, and then after the floods, it was terrible.” 

Jooste said she was at home recovering from a foot operation last year. 

“It was really terrible; it was as if I was sitting next to a toilet that had not been flushed for days. We could not sit on our veranda and the smell was even in our bedroom.” 

Jooste, who has lived in the same house near the river for 37 years, said this was not always the case.

“Growing up, my two sons and daughter and their staffie used to swim and play in the river with a boat — it was a lot of fun. The local water department used to often test the water and there was never a problem,” she said.

Jooste reported pollution along the stretch of the Umbilo River near Underwood and Riverside roads in Pinetown. The case was transferred to the Environmental Management Inspectors, known as the Green Scorpions, for investigation. 

She said officials from the Green Scorpions arrived to interview her and to take samples of the water for testing. 

“On the day they took samples the stench was not so bad but when she came back to me to report the results she said it was shocking how high the level of E coli was in the water — as if it had just been taken right out of a sewage plant,” Jooste said.

Mbelengwa confirmed that the department was investigating the complaint.

“The investigation is almost complete and it is anticipated to be finalised and sent to the director of public prosecutions soon for a decision on whether or not to prosecute,” he said.

eThekwini metro spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo said the city was not aware of the criminal case.