The ANC in J.B. Marks has reduced the sewage spillage investigation by Leon Basson, the DA shadow minister for water and sanitation to an act of playing to the gallery before the 2019 elections.
The ANC whip in the municipality, Mpho Matsapola says the ANC is the leader of society and the only party that cares for the community it leads.
‘Even the timing shows that the DA is playing to the gallery and everyone knows that all they are trying to do is gain the confidence of the ANC strongholds in the run-up to the 2019 elections,’ she said.
‘Our people are not blind; they know that their only hope is the ANC. They have come out of poverty, have shelter over their heads, roads and schools. Those in need receive free basic services like electricity, water, refuse removal and many others. We note the sewer spillage challenges that the community is facing as our township expands. We have inherited an apartheid legacy of dilapidated asbestos infrastructure that is over 60 years old.’
The municipality needs over one billion to upgrade
Matsapola says the municipality needs over one billion rand to upgrade the entire system to PVC (polyvinyl chloride). ‘I can state that the ANC government is negotiating with investors to give us funding to upgrade our systems. Those talks are at an advanced stage and the community will be kept informed on all the developments in relations to the funding. This clearly shows that we have a plan in place to eradicate the sewer spillage,’ she said.
‘It must be noted, however, that spillage and maintenance are an ongoing operational matter that the department of technical services deals with on a case to case basis, as and when the community reports incidents. It is, therefore, difficult to put time frames to the eradication of the spillage.
‘We must also point out that the spillage is often caused by foreign objects that people throw into the sewer system,’ she emphasised.
Photo; Selogile Leshage
Municipal solutions to mitigate the problems
Matsapola says the municipality has already upgraded part of the sewer network in Ikageng Ext. 11 and has thus alleviated some of the blockages. ‘But, due to budgetary constraints, the whole network could not be upgraded. The department of technical services has compiled a detailed report on the upgrading of the sewer network in Ikageng and this report will serve before the council in due course.
‘We suggest that the municipality, through the correct platform, undertakes an awareness campaign to educate the community about the effects of throwing foreign objects into the sewer system.
‘Once again, we remind the community to make sure that they use the correct numbers when reporting the spills. We have a 24-hour call centre at the disaster management buildings. The number is 018 299 5347,’ she advised.
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/50526/das-parliamentarian-intervenes-sewage-spill-crisis-ikageng/
