FARMER FINED OVER R1.7 MILLION FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF WATER
LUTENDO LIVHEBE – MUDAU. The Estcourt District Court has sentenced Roy Clifford Braithwaite (74), to a fine of over R1,7 million after he was convicted of contravening the National Water Act. Between September 2018 and May 2021, Braithwaite unlawfully used water from the nearby Wagon Drift Dam to water 127 hectares of crop on his farm. He was arrested after the matter came to light and the Department of Water and Sanitation laid a complaint.
In support of the state’s case, District Court Prosecutor Lindokuhle Mzila led the evidence of a Senior State Accountant from the Department of Water and Sanitation who testified that the prejudice suffered by the department as a result of Braithwaite’s unlawful activity, amounted to approximately R1 770 000. The court thus convicted him accordingly and asked to him to pay the fine.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the finalisation of this matter and we congratulate the prosecution and all stakeholders involved on a job well done.
