Leaking sewers pose a health hazard to residents
The burst sewage pipe passes through the backyard of gogo Elizabeth Ncongwane
PRAKTISEER – It is a known fact that personal hygiene is of prime importance to South African citizens, but this priority has been sorely overlooked in Segorong Village outside Burgersfort.
A large sewage pipe burst about a year ago, according to community, and the effluent is streaming into the Tubatse River. The situation is getting worse and rumours have it that the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) and the contractor, Mr Talane Moyaga, don’t know who is going to fix it.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the area and saw a group of children playing in the flood-like rivers of waste water down nearby streets – the stench was unbearable.
The burst sewage pipe passes through the backyard of Gogo Elizabeth Ncongwane (64), which forced her to vacate her house and to stay with the neighbours. She says she struggles to eat as the terrible smell is affecting her.
“About six months ago we were promised that the pipe was going to be fixed, they told me to take some pictures and forward them to Moyaga, of Talane projects, who is the social facilitator who ensured the Segorong community relocates to Praktiseer. Still today, I am still waiting for Moyaga to fix it as promised,” the gogo said.
“Our kids are playing in the stinking sewage and the Sekhukhune District Municipality is ignoring this health hazard. I am afraid they will contract fatal disease like cholera and dysentery,” said one angry parent.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted Moyaga who promised that the system would be fixed in less than a week. Attempts to obtain comment from Mr Willy Mosoma, spokesman for Sekhukhune District Municipality were fruitless.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News understands that when the Segorong people relocated to Praktiseer in 2012, one of the agreements between the community and the Annesley Andalusite Mine was for the families to be provided with proper sanitation.
To this day, the wait continues.
