Despite various complaints, the Merafong City Local Municipality is not attending to various water leaks around Blybank.

For weeks, pedestrians could not use the sidewalk on Dove Street next to the municipal library in Blybank due to water streaming from a leak on the sidewalk. Just a bit lower down the same street, water is also leaking from the sidewalk near the Blybank taxi rank. There is also a large leak around the block at the corner of Hornbill and Spaniel Street.

By August 31, sewage was also streaming onto the street just across the same corner.

“This sewage has been leaking for the past two weeks,” a passer-by, Nelson Hlongwane, remarked.

Another resident, Donald Mohlamme, confirmed that the water has been leaking for at least the past two months.

“The municipality’s water and sewerage department is failing us,” a community leader, Thulani Mthembu, remarked.

What makes the issues even more concerning is that Blybank is situated on dolomitic ground, which means that the ongoing leaks may cause sinkholes. Although the Herald contacted the municipality’s marketing and communications manager, Temba Fezani, about the issues, no response was received.