Resident complains about persistent sewage problems
Mohlakeng resident Ashley Minnaar is tired of living in constant sewage overflow and urges the municipality to replace the infrastructure. The municipality states they are actively addressing the problem.
After experiencing yet another major spill of sewage, resident Ashley Minnaar is worried about ongoing blockages on his street and urges Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) to replace the infrastructure rather than repeatedly fixing the issue.
On the morning of August 12, Minnaar’s yard on Leeuw Street was flooded with sewage due to a severe blockage. Although the problem was fixed later that same day, Minnaar is concerned it will happen again.
He stressed that this was not the first occurrence. Regular blockages lead to spillages that residents have to deal with repeatedly.
Minnaar has asked the municipality to replace the entire infrastructure instead of making temporary repairs.
“My mother moved here in 1948. She is now 74 years old and the infrastructure has never been replaced. Although it was fixed within two days it happened again,” he said.
He is not only worried that the blockage may recur but also fearful of the biohazard risk posed by the spillage.
“There is a school nearby and the children are obviously going to be playing in the water. Not only am I concerned about the children, but there are plenty of elderly people who depend on a clean environment. We have sick people in the community who cannot live in these conditions,” he explained.
For Minnaar personally, the area where the spillage occurs is near the back door of his yard, causing contaminated water to flow directly into his house.
“This is a major health hazard. It is completely unacceptable and we cannot keep living like this. We do not care who is in control, we are just asking for service delivery,” he insisted.
The Randfontein Herald contacted municipal spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa, who acknowledged the situation.
“The resident shared photos with me, which I subsequently forwarded to the relevant department. He later confirmed that the issue was resolved and sent additional pictures confirming everything has been taken care of,” Montshiwa explained.
He emphasised that the municipality consistently responds to residents’ concerns and that they are fully aware of the sewer spillages affecting certain areas. As such, the municipality is actively working to address these issues.
Furthermore, Montshiwa mentioned that weekly service delivery meetings are held to monitor progress and ensure all matters are attended to.
