The NPA has successfully convicted the Knysna Municipality
Knysna Local Municipality is compelled to spend than R640 million on environmental rehabilitation and compliance measures after the municipality pleaded guilty to multiple environmental law contraventions in the Southern Cape town.
The Knysna Regional Court fined the municipality R10m after it was convicted on several counts linked to contraventions of the National Environmental Management Act, the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, the Environmental Conservation Act and the National Water Act.
The court suspended the R10m fine for five years on condition that the municipality spends the same amount on emergency repairs in line with the plea and sentencing agreement and within agreed deadlines.
In addition, the municipality committed to utilise an approved R630m council budget over five years to ensure compliance with environmental obligations, rehabilitate affected areas and mitigate further environmental damage.
