The debilitating sewage infrastructure in Sun City (Extention 32, 33 and 34) has been left unattended with disgruntled residents despondent over the sewage spillages in the area, as burst pipes and spillages have become a norm with complaints falling on deaf ears.
A main street, which is a major taxi route, is synonymous with sewage spillages as there has been an overflowing manhole gushing sewage into the street.
The stench in the area is overwhelming and the spillage poses health risks to the community as children could be seen trying to navigate through a puddle of water mixed with sewer during the Highvelder’s visit to the area.
The whole area of Ext 32, 33 and 34 is riddled with the problem and many factors contribute to its ailing infrastructure.
According to Msukaligwa Municipality, many factors contribute to the problem at large, not only in Sun City but the whole of Msukaligwa.
These include ageing sewerage infrastructure, foreign objects flushed into the pipeline system, nature and even the human element.
However, Sun City seems to be experiencing the worst as the abovementioned street has been flooded for most of the beginning of the year and no solution seems to be forthcoming.
The community also acknowledges its own contribution to the problem, as evidenced by the illegal dumpsite adding to the stench on the street.
Sun City also has seen an influx of people moving into the area, which poses a threat to the pipeline system as it cannot support the growing numbers.
“Some residents are going so far as to illegally connect their own pipes which damages the system at large,” Msukaligwa Municipality spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, said.
He was alluding to the fact that residents now connect their pipes instead of asking a professional from the municipality to connect it, and forgo requesting an approved building plan from the municipality.
However, all of Sun City’s woes could be over after the Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtsweni, included Ext 32 and 33 as areas to receive funding in Msukaligwa for sewerage infrastructure, during her State of the Province address.
“We are currently attending to the problem of sewer spillages in eMbalenhle and Leandra in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Ext 32, 33 and 34 in Msukaligwa Local Municipality and Standerton Extension 8 in Lekwa Local Municipality,” Ms Mtsweni said.
Ms Mtsweni added that a total of R214-million has been set aside in this financial year to address sewer spillages and other infrastructural challenges in the province.
However, residents of Ext 32, 33 and 34 will know how much is set aside for their particular area, when the Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa, Mr Joseph Mkhaliphi, presents his State of the Municipality address.
It will be a welcome relief for residents, who over the years, have lamented no progress in sewerage infrastructure in Sun City.
