Govan Mbeki Municipality forks out R44-million, but sewage spills are worse than ever

Mpumalanga’s provincial government spent millions of rands to repair sewer spills around Govan Mbeki Municipality in the past years.

However, the situation is now worst than ever, said community members from Mandela Section in eMbalenhle.

“We even wish they never touched it because we didn’t know we were asking for the worst,” said Mr Africa Mokoena, a resident.

“We wash hands regularly as per our government’s request, but we jump over spills and inhale sewage fumes everyday without any instruction from the government on how to protect ourselves from contracting respiratory diseases from this pollution,” said Mr Mokoena.

Even the then Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mr Zweli Mkhize, visited the area and also inspected the work that was in progress at the time.

Residents then also showed their dissatisfaction about work done by certain companies, citing that they left them with toilets which are not working.

Residents said sometimes government say something and do the opposite.

“How can you say we must stay indoors while we are living in this environment?

“We are scared of Covid-19,but we have this longtime pandemic called sewage spills which is also dangerous for our health,” said Ms Maria Mofokeng, a mother of two.

“I must protect my children from Covid -19, and respiratory diseases that may be caused by sewage pills in our homes, what kind of life is this?” asked Ms Mofokeng.

The said sewer spills repair project was allegedly never handed over to the municipality.

“Even some local companies who were given a chance, failed to complete the work. they just left us with this mess,” said Ms Mofokeng.

“We do not know what to do because even our Ward councillor does not say or do anything, we are in the dark,” said residents.

Prince of Tides was hired as the main contractor to fix this sewage spills in Extension 18 and Mandela Section, and the local companies subcontracted.

Govan Mbeki Municipality’ acting head of communications, Mr Donald Green, said they are aware of the spills and the contractor was shown defects before Christmas.

“Sometimes the sewers block up and the municipality unblocks it, awareness also has to take place on a serious note as the community still throws foreign objects into the manholes and flush foreign objects down their toilets,” said Mr Green.

Mr Green said the municipality had nothing to do with the tender, as both the consultant and the contractor were appointed by the Provincial Department of Human Settlement.

The budget allocated for Mandela Section, which includes Extensions 10 and 16, was R44,7 million.

He described it as not entirely fruitless or wasteful expenditure and said in some sections sewage flows properly.

He also said the company is still expected to repair defects and no action has been taken against it.