Ignored sewage spill a major hazard
ABERDEEN - Crossing through filthy, stinking, rotting sewage water is what awaits about 50 to 70 residents in Aberdeen every day of their lives.
The one formal crossing over the river between Thembalesizwe and the town of Aberdeen, is for many pedestrians simply too far away, especially those working in the north eastern parts of town.
Seeing that the riverbed is dry, it has become common practice for many residents to cross the river at an informal crossing not far from the sewage pumping station situated on the Thembalesizwe side.
However, the pumps have been out of order for more than a year, making this crossing a health hazard of note. Some residents say the sewage in a section of the river has been there for weeks; some say months. Fact is, it is there and it seems the local municipality is quite content with the situation.
On Monday 5 September and on Monday 12 September, Graaff-Reinet Advertiser inspected the area and spoke to a number of people crossing the river. All of them asked to stay anonymous. People using the crossing vary from school children, adults with toddlers going shopping, employees working in town to people moving items. One woman who works at a well-known guesthouse, says the worst is when heading to work. "It is not getting back home, but getting to work, that really gets me. It is so embarrassing actually dehumanising - to walk through this raw sewage water and arrive at work with stinking shoes, but then we want to impress visitors!"
Three young men, pulling a trailer filled with bricks through the sewage, said they have little choice. "Yes, it stinks, but we have to do what we have to to put food on the table and a roof over our heads."
This crossing has been in use for a long time, yet there is no signage or any other form of warning to not use it. There is no trace of any attempt to close or obstruct the crossing and no way that pedestrians can cross that part of the river without walking through the hazardous sewage, seeping onto the riverbed from the broken municipal infrastructure.
The local office of the municipality is aware of the broken infrastructure, but could not be reached for comment on 12 September, since they were on strike.