No help for residents with sewage overflows
Ward councillor André du Plessis, who is also the DA shadow MMC for environment and waste management services in Ekurhuleni, said residents were growing increasingly frustrated about the stench of raw sewage, which had become a common occurrence.
The DA demands immediate action to rectify the continuous overflow of raw sewage in Bonaero Park, as well as the lack of water pressure in sections of the suburb.
Ward councillor André du Plessis, who is also the DA shadow MMC for environment and waste management services in Ekurhuleni, said residents were growing increasingly frustrated about the stench of raw sewage, which had become a common occurrence.
Birdlife has also completely disappeared in the area.
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“This is not a new problem. It dates back to over a decade of challenges for the community, which the DA has been pushing to have rectified. We had the previous executive mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele’s, commitment to have this matter dealt with and resolved as a matter of urgency when he visited the site with a team of engineers.
“Now, MMC Tiisetso Nketle has promised to take action and implement steps to rectify this urgent matter. To date, there have been no permanent changes,” said du Plessis.
According to him, the primary issue is the existing sewer line, which is old and severely perforated.
This results in raw sewage seeping into the wetlands, causing a severe stench and environmental damage.
“This means the entire Bonaero sewer system is also compromised due to the ageing infrastructure and is unable to cope with the new developments in the area, such as the IDZ projects and new warehouse developments.
“The entire sewerage line needs upgrading and replacing to accommodate the changing and growing developments of the area. However, the City of Ekurhuleni lacks any sort of will to change and rectify this urgent matter. They choose to ignore residents’ pleas to have this resolved and rehabilitate the environment,” added du Plessis.
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He said residents had to invest in JoJo tanks and pump boosters to try and have a reliable source of water.
“It’s unacceptable that ratepayers struggle to get access to a basic human right such as water. As the DA, we have been driving to have this matter resolved and have done extensive oversight, public meetings and media exposure to highlight this issue.
“We are now calling on the mayor and City manager Dr Imogen Mashazi to intervene and resolve this once and for all. We will also petition the MMC for water, sanitation and energy to take action in her department and address these issues.”
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