During the debate on the Department of Environment’s report in the Gauteng Legislature, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned that the province’s environment is under unprecedented pressure.
Although Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa, it houses more than 25% of the country’s population.
This population pressure places enormous demands on water resources, infrastructure, and the natural environment.
Rivers and streams are polluted daily by sewage spills, industrial waste, and illegal dumping sites.
Groundwater is under threat, and air quality in several areas remains unacceptably poor.
This is not merely an environmental issue, but a health, economic, and quality-of-life crisis.
The Freedom Front Plus acknowledges the department’s achievements in areas such as rehabilitation projects, biodiversity management, and environmental compliance. However, it is unacceptable that only 63% of the department’s performance targets were met while the state of the environment continues to deteriorate.
The biggest polluters are often municipalities that fail to properly maintain wastewater treatment works and effectively implement waste management.
In addition, certain industries continue to pollute air and water resources without significant consequences.
Accountability must form the cornerstone of environmental management. Environmental laws must not merely exist on paper; they must be enforced without fear or favour.
Municipalities and industries that pollute must be held accountable.
As chairperson of the portfolio committee on environment, the Freedom Front Plus will fearlessly continue its oversight role to ensure that polluters are identified, held accountable, and penalized where necessary.
The committee will continue to put pressure on municipalities, state institutions, and the private sector to comply with environmental legislation and to protect Gauteng’s natural resources.
A better dispensation awaits Gauteng after the local government elections on 4 November 2026.
With greater representation and direct say in the province’s local governments, the Freedom Front Plus will enforce stricter oversight, better management, and greater accountability. This is the only way to halt the current decay and restore the environment.
The people of Gauteng deserve clean water, cleaner air, and an environment that future generations can be proud of. The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.
Freedom Front Plus Youth Empowerment: The party focuses on empowering youth through education and job creation.
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