After weeks of frustration and repeated reports, Midrand residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Johannesburg Water attended to a sewage spill that had been polluting the Vorna Valley vlei.

This marks the fourth sewage spill at the site in the past six months, with the contamination originating from a left tributary that runs from the Halfway House area into the vlei and all the way through to Waterfall Dam. It was finally addressed on February 12.

Read more: Sewage leaks, litter and dumping plague Vorna Valley

Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said despite repeated follow-ups, the issue remained unresolved for weeks.

“This was a water sewerage spill that was reported on January 21. There was no attention given to it. I eventually wrote to the city manager. I told the city manager that the region is not dealing with my issues and my burning issues,” said Deppe.

According to the councillor, Johannesburg Water officials were dispatched after her correspondence with the city manager, but they initially could not access the spill site due to locked gates and dense bush. Once on-site, they discovered that the source of the spill was not at the Le Roux Avenue bridge but further upstream.

Also read: Fourth sewage spill in six months pollutes Vorna Valley vlei

“They left, saying they would trace the source upstream. And they never reported back.” Deppe added that no feedback was received from either the regional director’s office or Johannesburg Water until the spill was finally fixed on February 12.

City Parks and Zoo assisted by clearing the path for Johannesburg Water on February 10, enabling officials to reach the contaminated area and resolve the spill.

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