DA welcomes Ekurhuleni sewer upgrades in Thembisa, urges faster action

The DA in Thembisa South has welcomed the City of Ekurhuleni’s confirmation that bulk sewerage upgrade projects are underway in the area, following years of persistent sewer overflows that have severely affected residents’ dignity, health, and quality of life.

The party is calling for the urgent acceleration of these projects, along with clear timelines and transparent reporting, to ensure lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes.

Official municipal records show that there were 4227 sewerage complaints in the 2024/25 financial year and 3499 complaints in 2023/24.

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These figures exclude incidents reported via social media and community channels, suggesting that the true scale of the crisis may be even greater.

“For far too long, families in Thembisa have endured raw sewerage bubbling into bathtubs, flowing through yards, and spilling onto streets where children play.

“This is not merely a breakdown in infrastructure, but poor governance that has left residents exposed to serious health and environmental risks,” said Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA MPL.

“The city has revealed that two major bulk sewer projects, the Thembisa X25 Outfall Sewer Upgrade and the Thembisa Sewer (Thembisa 1) Project, are being implemented as part of a multi-year programme scheduled to run until 2028.

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“The city has also admitted that current budgets are inadequate and that implementation will occur in phases. However, this should not serve as an excuse for this long-overdue project to fall further behind schedule.”

CoE has responded regarding the locations of affected areas, and updates will follow once the necessary repairs and maintenance have been completed.