Industrial Fumes

A small factory in your neighbourhood is burning something that gives off fumes and clouds of smoke that make you feel ill.

What Can You Do?

Write a letter to the committee in the municipality that deals with environmental issues, reporting the matter and asking them to investigate.

Raw Sewage

A sewage treatment plant regularly overflows and raw sewage is pumped into a river where children play.

What Can You Do?

Write a letter of complaint to the Department of Water and Sanitation, and to the committee in the municipality that deals with water affairs.

Local Development

Your municipality is making a decision about a development that will change the environment in the area. You feel certain procedures of NEMA haven’t been followed in the planning process and you are afraid that the development will go ahead.

What Can You Do?

You can:

• Approach the full time municipality officials, like the town planning department, and explain your concern. Ask for information about the development and which committees will be deciding the issue.
• Report your concerns and recommendations to the chairperson of the relevant local government committee that is responsible for making decisions regarding development. Ask them for feedback within a specified period of time.
• If the committee does not respond to your recommendations, write a letter of complaint to the council executive committee. Warn them if you believe they did not follow the right procedures or went against NEMA. Tell them you might go to court to challenge their decision.

Wait for the response to your complaint. If it goes against you, think about appealing, or applying for conciliation, and only then consider going to court to have the decision set aside.