Tshwane warns residents about foul stench
The City of Tshwane has confirmed that the foul, noxious smell experienced in some parts of Centurion this week comes from the illegal dumping of oil.
Since Monday, Centurion residents have taken to social media to complain about the odour, with some describing it as a gas smell.
“@CityTshwane, can you pls communicate with us? We are experiencing a terrible smell in Centurion. We are not sure if we are safe,” Odirile Letlotlo_Wenzile iGugu posted on X on Monday.
The city said on Thursday that it had received multiple complaints about an offensive smell in several Centurion neighbourhoods.
“What’s that smell in Centurion? Should we worry?” asked The Stranger.
“Centurion West: Raslouw, Rooihuiskraal, Celtisdal are under siege due to a foul smell beginning last night and continuing today! Can the municipality investigate this matter urgently?” @Kagiso.Kgosiemang posted on Tuesday.
The city said investigations have shown that the illegal oil dumping by a liquid waste disposal service provider near the Sunderland Ridge wastewater treatment works (WWTW) was causing the foul stench.
Ziyanda Zwane, the city’s MMC for environment and agriculture management, said Tshwane’s environmental management inspectorate – which is also known as the Green Scorpions – was working with the department of environment, forestry and fisheries to charge the liquid waste service provider and the company in question criminally in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 1998.
“The situation is currently being monitored by the city as not only unpleasant odours are being emitted, but the quality of the final effluent being released by Sunderland Ridge WWTW might also be compromised,” he said.
“This may have significant detrimental impacts on the natural environment downstream of Sunderland Ridge WWTW.”
The city has advised affected residents to stay indoors, close windows and doors when detecting the smell and avoid the river downstream of Sunderland Ridge WWTW until further notice.