Biohazardous sewage spill ignored
Litres of raw sewage are once again gushing into the Vaalbank stream, where it will flow into the Klein Olifants River, endangering the lives of residents who make use of river water, as well as the animal life that relies on it.
An Eastdene resident, who captured the biohazardous disaster, said that sewage pollution of the stream has been consistent for well over five years, and he feels that the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality is not taking the issue seriously enough.
“I want people to see what is pumping into our rivers and to know what a danger it poses to our community!” the man said anonymously.
The resident told the Middelburg Observer that he was born in Middelburg, and he has walked across the low-water bridge on Koets Street on his way to the mosque every second day of his life, “It hurts me to see a river once teeming with life, now so contaminated.”
The resident shared memories of the river thriving with fish, birds and plant life, all of which has dwindled in the last five years.
While the resident acknowledged that he is unaware of how long the specific leak has continued, he feels that sewage leaks in the area have persisted too frequently and for too long,
“A lot of people enjoy fishing in the river, and there are also a lot of residents who make use of the water to do their laundry. These people need to know how dangerous it is to use this water!”
The resident also confirmed that the leaks were not only reported repeatedly to the municipality but that he brought the larger issue to the attention of environmentalists on several occasions.
“They are just not taking it seriously!”
The sewage leak was found next to Zuid Street, along the sewer line that runs between the industrial area and the Eastdene suburb.
The sewer line in question has been broadly reported on over the last five years, due to the consistent sewer leaks, and was also identified by the council as the culprit behind the heavy pollution due to its incapacity to transfer the high amounts of effluent that passes through it.
The municipality has made promises of upgrading the sewer line since January 2021, with the water usage licence issued in 2018 already, as well as budget approval being made long ago. The line, however, has not yet been upgraded, with little feedback as to why.
• DA ward Councillor Johann Dyason, who serves on the portfolio committee of infrastructure, reported the leak to the Executive Director of Water and Sanitation on Monday. Cllr Dyason also promised to request feedback on the progress of the planned upgrades.
