PHALABORWA – “Phalaborwa town stinks.”

This is the blunt statement from the general manager of a local lodge who reached out to the Herald in frustration over ongoing sewage issues affecting their business.

A town losing its shine and its visitors

“What’s happening now simply isn’t working.”

For more than two and a half years, the lodge has battled to retain returning guests, with many customers either requesting refunds or cutting their stay short due to the unbearable stench of sewage flowing into the premises.

“Guests often complain about the smell, and it’s driving them away. We’ve lost a lot of business because of this,” the manager said.

According to him, while the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality has attempted to repair the leaks, the problem keeps recurring. “They come and fix the manhole or the drain, but after a while, it bursts again,” he explained.

He attributes the persistent issue to the town’s ageing sewage infrastructure and the rapid increase in student accommodation developments, which he believes the current system can no longer support.

“The infrastructure needs a full upgrade and consistent maintenance. What’s happening now simply isn’t working,” he said.

Lodge owners warn of long-term impact

“The whole town loses out.”

He further warned that Phalaborwa’s reliance on tourism, aside from mining, which he notes has a limited lifespan, makes the issue even more critical.

“If tourists don’t enjoy their stay, they won’t come back. They’ll choose destinations like Hoedspruit instead, and the whole town loses out.”

Another lodge owner, located 10km outside of Phalaborwa, said that while sewage is not a major issue at his establishment, he is deeply concerned about the overall decline of the town.

“There’s litter everywhere, the roads are full of potholes, there are regular water shortages, and electricity is reduced every second day. I pay R5 000 to R7 000 a month directly to Eskom, but I’m without power for 178 hours every month,” he said. He did, however, commend the municipality for collecting refuse on time.

A third lodge manager, based just 1.9km from the Kruger National Park gate, echoed similar concerns.

“Our guests often complain about the town’s general appearance and the poor condition of the roads. The only time you see real cleaning efforts is before the Marula Festival, and that’s not fair,” he said.

Municipality promises upgrade still in process

In response to ongoing concerns, the Herald asked Mopani District Municipality spokesperson Odas Ngobeni for an update on the promised sewage infrastructure upgrade.

During his State of the District Address, Mayor Pule Shayi mentioned that around 10% of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant had been allocated to this project.

Ngobeni confirmed that the project is still in the supply chain process stage. The Herald will continue to follow up and report on developments.