Mason Street manhole fixed… for now
The problem appears to be that the system itself is not big enough to accommodate the amount of sewage which now flows through it, with the addition of other areas, such as Lakeside, Bhekuzulu and Sasko being added. The pipes are too small.
AFTER months of complaints from residents in the Mason Street area, the sewage spill from a nearby manhole has finally been fixed… Or has it?
The sewerage system, which is believed to be upward of 50 years old, has plagued residents in the area for months, overflowing into the grass regularly, especially after rainy days. The problem appears to be that the system itself is not big enough to accommodate the amount of sewage which now flows through it, with the addition of other areas, such as Lakeside, Bhekuzulu and Sasko being added. The pipes are too small.
Add to that, the ongoing problem of sanitary products and other incongruous effects, such as cutlery (yes, cutlery) being flushed or dumped into the system and you have a major problem with blockage, leading to an inevitable overflow.
AfriForum‘s Vryheid branch has been in touch with the Department of Water and Sanitation, reporting the issue to them on several occasions. Their only viable course of action at the moment is to monitor the flow of the manhole and unblock it when necessary, as there is allegedly no money at present to implement a long term solution, such as replacing the pipes with bigger ones more equipped to handle the increased flow of sewage.
