According to a report by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), further litigation could escalate all the way to the Constitutional Court.

The commission released its findings on Wednesday after launching the investigation back in 2018.

The inquiry into the Vaal sewage spill has found that the waste pollution was undoubtedly a crisis and an obvious liability to the state.

Human Rights commissioner Jonas Sibanyoni said that the poor service delivery and constitutional violations could result in a massive civil case for the state.

"In respect of Water and Sanitation Department, the pollution of the Vaal area will result in further litigation that could escalate all the way to the Constitutional Court."

The commission has recommended that any irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure be investigated and the relevant parties be made to pay back the monies to the municipality and where applicable, the matter must be reported to the police

Source: EWN