by Charl van der Merwe, Environmental Ethicist. On behalf of Sedgefield Ratepayers Association (Edge Issue 746)
Election fever is picking up. In the news and on social media, it is a daily event and one of these days all the poles and trees in our town will be decorated (polluted?) with eager candidates petitioning for our vote. While at public meetings they promising us Utopia.
However, I would want answers that go beyond the general and empty promises about filling potholes or keeping our town clean and beautiful. Environmental care is not only about planting trees or cleaning up litter, but about protecting the natural systems that support our health, our economy, tourism, and quality of life. In a town such as Sedgefield, where the estuary, forests, coastline, rivers, and rich biodiversity are central to daily life, environmental leadership should be practical, transparent, and accountable.
The first issue I would raise is water and sanitation, a key responsibility of local government. I would ask prospective councillors how they plan to prevent sewage spills, protect our lakes, and maintain and upgrade the wastewater infrastructure. I would also want to know what immediate steps will be taken to contain and clean up spills, and how communities will be kept informed. Pollution does not respect ward boundaries it threatens public health, the estuary, Groenvlei, tourism, fishing, recreation, and our town's reputation. I would expect clear repair time-lines, transparent reporting, and strict accountability for environmental law violations.
We should ask about water security as water shortages can quickly become a social, economic, and environmental crisis. Drought, climate change, reduced river flows, pollution, known ageing infrastructure, and water losses all place pressure on residents and businesses. What practical steps will we support or implement to reduce water wastage, repair leaks faster, improve storage capacity, and encourage responsible water use without unfairly burdening poorer households?
Waste management.
We must ask how we intend to improve the management of our green waste facility which is currently a health, pollution, and fire risk. What are our views on future refuse collection, recycling, illegal dumping, and the management of waste facilities. We cannot claim to care for the environment if waste is left to pile up, if recycling is treated as an afterthought, or if we are not given accessible ways to responsibly dispose of garden refuse, household waste, and hazardous materials. They must tell us how they will support cleaner neighbourhoods.
They must explain how they understand the link between environmental protection and local economic development. Environmental care is not opposed to jobs and growth; it is one of the foundations of that. Visitors come to Sedgefield because of the natural beauty. We, as residents, depend on clean water and healthy surroundings, and future investment depends on good governance. We should ask whether they support development that respects sensitive ecosystems, limits damage to wetlands, rivers coastal dunes and proper environmental oversight before decisions are made.
Biodiversity and invasive vegetation are also critical issues. I would ask how the candidates plan to protect our forests, fynbos, estuary, coastline, and dunes, while working with conservation authorities and community groups. They should also have a clear strategy on how to manage invasive alien plants, reduce fire risk and prevent erosion and habitat loss. Show that they recognise that prevention is more effective and far less costly than repairing environmental damage.
Finally, what about accountability and public participation? How will we know whether environmental promises are being kept? Will we support the ward-level feedback meetings, open reporting on pollution incidents, and meaningful consultation before major decisions? Environmental care should not depend only on election speeches. It should be measured through visible improvements, honest communication, and a willingness to listen to residents, scientists, civic groups, and affected communities.
A councillor who takes environmental care seriously should be able to explain what they will do, when it will be done, how it will be funded, and how residents can hold them accountable. These questions matter because the environment is not separate from the future of our town; it is the foundation on which that future depends. A healthy environment equals a healthy community.
As a voter, I challenge any of—
Talking Conservation is a conservation-focused column in Sedgefield’s Edge newspaper, sponsored by Drie Valleyen Reserve.