DA’s parliamentarian intervenes in sewage spill crisis in Ikageng

The severity of the sewer spillage in Ikageng has prompted the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) shadow minister for water and sanitation, Leon Basson to come from parliament and conduct an investigation into and oversight of the crisis in Ikageng on Monday.

Basson says the DA will lay charges against the mayor, Kgotso Khumalo and municipal manager, Cyril Henry, for allowing residents to live in inhumane, undignified conditions due to the ongoing sewage spill in Ikageng. He says they will also ask the minister of water and sanitation, Gugile Nkwinti, to immediately intervene and ensure that the sewage spill is fixed. ‘The DA will also look into the possibility of laying charges at the Human Rights Commission,’ he said.

Basson told the Herald the situation is very bad and is evident wherever the ANC governs.

I have not seen any dignity today
He added that living next to a sewer plant is a health risk. ‘There are high E. Coli levels that could affect the health of people and children in this area. It’s unacceptable.

The slogan for the department of water and sanitation is ‘water is life and dignity’. I have not seen any dignity today. The people are suffering because the ANC municipality is neglecting them and we must lay criminal charges.’

‘One resident resorted to relocating as the sewage spilt directly into his shack and the stench was unbearable. Residents in Ext. 11 also told the DA that the roads in the area are inaccessible because of the spillage and, when they get sick, the ambulances have difficulty accessing the neighbourhood. The police are also unable to monitor the area, which makes it an easy target for criminal activity,’ said Basson.

‘The worse part is that the municipality has spent R12 million on the project and nothing has improved for the community,’ he said.

The Herald previously reported that the municipality blames people who throw objects into manholes for the blockage of the sewer lines.

Community will not endanger their own lives
Basson was furious, saying he could not understand how the municipality could claim that people would sabotage the lines so they could live in these conditions. ‘This is a maintenance problem, they are supposed to maintain and clean the sewer lines.’

He offered the municipality more solutions, including the completion of the R12 million project and ensuring that the lines are open and are connected. He also recommended that the houses should be linked to the sewer to stop the spillage from the area and give the people dignity.

https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/50529/anc-party-cares-community-leads-says-anc-whip/

https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/50382/video-da-lay-charges-mayor-municipal-manager-sewage/

https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/50253/nile-river-spillage-ikageng/