Residents tired of sewer spills
Residents in ward 12 and 13 in Phomolong have had enough of sewer spills and poor roads.
They have petitioned council to action improvements to address their concerns.
According to the residents, they are experiencing, on average, one sewer spillage per day and on some days, two sewer spillages.
“This creates an unhealthy living condition for us, especially for growing children.
“The sewer spills often run down streets into the nearest storm water management system. The causes of these spills are lack of capacity due to the increased number of residents living in Phomolong,” said one resident.
Residents said theft of manhole covers is also causing foreign objects to get into the sewer system causing blockages.
“Foreign objects in the sewer system seem to be the main cause of blockage, which can take up to 48 hours to be repaired by the sewerage department.
“Roads are in a state of disrepair and often lack road markings and signs. The lack of these signs and markings have led to motorists often ignoring road signs and markings,” said some residents.
The residents further said that a serious lack of street signs are of great concern in Phomolong.
“The roads petition is requesting council intervention in dealing with these community concerns. The improvements are requested for consideration during the next multi-year budget cycle, which runs for three years starting with the 2015/2016 budget year and to be complemented in the 2017/2018 budget year,” they said.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolita Municipality’s (EMM) spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said the EMM is taking the issue of sewer and roads maintenance seriously.
“We are currently rolling out new manhole covers which has no value to metal thieves. This is in response to not only the theft of manhole covers, but also to address sewer spillages. We call on residents to refrain from throwing objects into the sewer lines,” he added.
Mr Gadebe said the municipality has discovered numerous foreign objects such as tyres and baby nappies, in the sewer lines.
“Roads rehabilitation has begun in the EMM and it may take longer to some areas because of the backlog. However, we are addressing the matter as a matter of high priority,” he said.
