People plead for sewerage upgrade
KOMANI residents in various areas have complained about the sewage system and poor service delivery in attending to leaks ever since the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) took over from Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (WSSA).
Concerned citizen Mlamli Golela from Bongweni said the two big holes behind a church near the Mlungisi Public Library (MPL) and post office were the result of a blockage early last November, but was fixed in the same month.
Golela said, “The sewage spilled in the same spot last month. A small puddle of sewage was drained after the company dug two big holes that even I could fit into. They left and this month they were again overflowing with sewage. A child could drown there and who would jump in to save them?”
Golela said there were continually leaks, sometimes 10 in a month, which WSSA would attend to immediately, compared with the poor service delivery from CHDM.
“The municipality does not care, they do not even do anything about the smell. We cannot open our windows in these scorching temperatures and we cannot even eat. Schools are open and CHDM has not put a barrier around to prevent access. Terrible things could happen and we would not know.”
Librarian Christina Kohlani said they started reporting the problem in November.
“On January 5, a truck and pump came, but they did nothing. We see little children nearby and they could drown. We must avoid a tragedy,” Kohlani said.
Thulandiville community members have had to dig ditches as their houses are swamped by sewage or it flows through their yards.
Nobantu Gwaza, 60, said she fears for her baby grandchild. “My grandchild could get tuberculosis, we cannot sleep, we cannot open windows, and we cannot eat because of the flies.”
Babalwa Ntantiso has a blocked toilet that spills into her neighbour’s yard. She said, “We called the municipality and they dug a hole which they covered with a metal plate. The toilet is blocked again, sewage is overflowing from the metal plate and we tried putting rocks on it in an attempt to seal it. I am HIV positive and on TB treatment and I am afraid my children could also get TB with so many flies around.”
Ward 17 Councillor Mncedisi Mbengo said he was disappointed with the municipality, because he had reported the problems since December.
He said, “Since CHDM took over the sewage from WSSA, we have been unhappy. The municipality told me there are no jetting machines which I do not understand because we saved millions by taking over the services rendered by WSSA. Why did CHDM not buy the equipment?
“Last week a dog fell into one of those sewage pools, what about children? You can smell the sewage from the Mlungisi police station.”
Mbengo said received complaints weekly about the matter and the health risk.
Thulandivile resident Siyabulela Lali said he developed skin problems and sores when the sewage problems started.
Last month, The Rep spoke to Christina Antwi who has a hairdressing salon in Thulandivile. She said her customers complained about the smell and flies flocked into her salon.
“Children play close to the sewage leakage. Can the municipality please help us, this is not healthy.”
Lukhanji Public Primary School principal Mzukisi Tshabe said he was concerned for his pupils’ health and safety, because of the two sewage pools which some walk past on their way to school.
The Rep reporter saw that the leak past the Hattingh residence started from Kingsway where the leakage appeared to have been recently fixed. However the area around it had rich green grass, indicating that sewage had been spilling for a while.
There was another leakage just a few steps away and both were not far from Queen's Junior. The sewage runs down a channel that passes through a residential area, schools and eventually into the Lawrence de Lange Game Reserve.
Queen’s Junior principal Richard Second said they also suffered from the sewage spillages which were a regular problem, especially after heavy rains.
Second said, “It doesn't affect our teaching, but it does affect sporting fixtures and training.
“When we have visiting schools, we have to call the municipality and if they don’t arrive, which often happens, we have to ask the groundsman to clear up the toilet paper and unsightly mess.”
Nature conservation officer Hein Gerber said the animals seemed not to have a problem.
Gerber said, “It is still a concern because of the smell. It is not good for the environment, especially for the game reserve. I have been talking a lot with the municipality about the spillages which could cause diseases among the animals.”
CHDM spokesman Lonwabo Kowa said the municipality had noted with concern the myriad of water- and sewer-related challenges affecting communities in some parts of the district.
“The issue around irregular sewer spillages is mainly triggered by the theft of cast iron manhole lids which are presumably sold as scrap metal.”
“This results in gravel, mattresses, sponges, stones, tyres, hair, stillborn babies and diapers being dumped, which lead to blockages and subsequent spillages. Flushing of foreign objects down household toilets is also another cause for these blockages.”
The district had thus resolved to procure non-metal lids to prevent further incidents.
People can contact the customer care hotline 0800-100-100 to report any service delivery-related challenges.
At the time of going to print, CHDM had not confirmed when last the sewage system was upgraded or explained why the sewage pools had not at least been covered for security reasons.
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