DA spokesperson on water and sanitation Steven James Moore visited the site of a recurring sewer overflow along the R554 Kliprivier Road on October 27, calling for more regular maintenance and urgent attention to deteriorating sewer infrastructure.

Moore visited the area alongside Ward 106 councillor Tim Denny, PR councillor Nina Gotthardt and Brackendowns resident Jack Morick to assess the ongoing problem near Kromvlei Cemetery, where sewage has been flowing along the roadside and into the Klip River.

During the visit, Moore said the sewer line running through the cemetery and into nearby residential areas had been severely damaged over many years by insufficient maintenance and vegetation growing into the pipes.

“This causes blockages and everywhere there are manholes, sewage pours out as you can see underneath us,” he said.

Moore warned that the overflowing sewage was contaminating rivers and natural wetlands, creating environmental hazards and raising concerns about the safety of nearby residents.

WATCH: Councillor calls for urgent action after sewer blockage at Alberton school

He also highlighted the impact on people living in the surrounding areas, particularly those who endure the foul smell from the sewage every evening.

“At night, this place stinks and if you live 200m from here, this is your every evening. This is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Major projects required

According to Moore, the prolonged deterioration of the sewer infrastructure means that resolving the problem will require major projects.

However, he said the municipality could take immediate steps to reduce the frequency and impact of the overflows while longer-term solutions are considered.

“The challenge is when things are left to break for many years, they are very hard to fix and it’s going to take major projects to fix this, but there are things that can be done in the short term, more regular maintenance, regular attention from the city,” he said.

Moore said he would work with Gotthardt to push for greater attention from the City of Ekurhuleni and prevent further damage to the sewer infrastructure.

Sewer crisis puts Brackenhurst at risk

He also raised concerns about the effect of the sewage overflow on Kromvlei Cemetery, saying the situation was affecting not only the wetlands but also the dignity of the burial site.

Residents demand action

Morick, who previously raised concerns about the recurring overflow, said residents have been dealing with the problem for months.

He believes tree roots may have infiltrated the sewer pipes and contributed to the repeated blockages, a concern the city has yet to verify through excavation.

The visit follows complaints from residents of Brackendowns and Brackenhurst about recurring sewage overflows along Kliprivier Road.

Residents have raised concerns about the environmental consequences, health risks and the ongoing failure to resolve the problem permanently.

City’s response

In response to an earlier enquiry from the Alberton Record, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini attributed the recurring blockages to sand and foreign objects.

Dlamini said the city could not confirm whether tree roots had damaged the pipes without first excavating the area. He added that municipal teams attend to blockages when reported and were working on the pipeline between manholes.

The city did not provide a timeframe for a permanent repair or infrastructure upgrade.

UPDATE: City blames sand, foreign objects for recurring Kliprivier Road sewer overflow