Residents of this town are still battling with ongoing water leaks and sewer spillages.

They are calling on the City of Mbombela (CoM) to urgently address these issues.

The White River Rate Payers Association (WRRPA) also demand that the matter be addressed as soon as possible. Despite CoM officials attending to the spillages, the situation is recurring as no permanent solution has been found.

Residents say it is impossible to live with the putrid smell hanging over the residential area.

Some concerned citizens in the area said: “The problem is ongoing and despite municipal officials trying short-term fixes, they are not winning. The infrastructure is dilapidated and needs to be replaced. Without regular maintenance this problem will continue.

“All we ask is for the CoM to come up with a permanent solution as we are paying rates and taxes,” they said, echoing the sentiments of the town’s many residents.

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Meanwhile, a member of the Mpumalanga Legislature and a former ward councillor for the area, Trudie Grové-Morgan, said the sewer spillage in the Hornbill Street was already a challenge four years ago and the municipality was advised to rebuild the infrastructure.

“The officials would open the sewer with rods and it will work for a day, before being blocked again. The municipality once promised residents they would appoint a contractor to fit new pipes, but that never happened. The area is still experiencing spillages and living with the smell. Four years is a long time and the CoM needs to take the residents seriously and fix the problem once and for all,” Grové-Morgan said.

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The WRRPA chairperson, Johan Heymans, told Lowvelder residents regularly report a lot of water leaks and sewer spillages in White River.

“The CoM’s main obstacle is their failing equipment. The Jetter machine has been broken for years and the CoM keeps quiet about it. It is essential to deal with our challenges. This machine uses high-pressure water to clear blockages and clean pipes. It works by directing a powerful stream of water through a hose and nozzle, blasting away debris, grease, roots and other obstructions in drains and sewer lines. This method is effective for both residential and commercial applications.”

Heymans said they are aware that other municipal equipment has also been broken for a long time, but are allegedly never fixed or replaced. “Sewage spillages are health hazards and we are now demanding immediate action.”

The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, had not responded to Lowvelder’s media enquiry regarding the water leaks and sewer spillages in White River by the time of publishing.