The discharge of raw sewage into the Bushman’s River has been a stinking problem for many years. Some of these leaks have been left unattended for more than five years but Democratic Alliance PR Councillor LeRoy Gericke is on a mission to draw attention to the sewage spills and hopefully stem the flow.

Recently Mr Gericke identified five locations where sewage is seeping into the Bushmans River. Mr Gericke explains: “The spills in Wembezi run into the Little Bushmans River, which runs through several farms where farmers used the water to irrigate pastures and drinking water for dairy herds but can now no longer do that as the water is too polluted.

Where the river runs through Estcourt, the sewage from Forderville flows unrestricted into the river. The pipeline that used to take the waste water over the river broke apart almost three years ago. Near Alice Bridge, next to Lambert Park, sewage is flowing into the Bushmans River from a manhole due to a blocked main line. In Colita (Qonti) there are numerous leaks that flow uninterrupted into a donga that leads to the Little Bushmans River. I have spoken to a number of farmers along the Bushmans River all the way to Weenen. They are all in accord that the water quality has deteriorated steadily over the past two years. Fishermen tell me that when they go fishing, they are no longer prepared to eat the fish they catch.”

Mr Gericke has reported these sewage leaks to Uthukela District Municipality on numerous occasions over the past three years but has received no long-term solution from officials. He has now submitted a report and photographic evidence to the Environmental and Tourism and Water Affairs and Forestry departments as well as national newspapers, Democratic Alliance leaders and the district municipality.He is patiently awaiting their response.
“This matter must receive serious attention and immediate action. Uthukela District Municipality cannot be permitted to continue side-stepping its responsibility,” added Mr Gericke.