Residents concerned about the state of river

The recent rainfall which washed rubbish straight into the Hennops River, have residents concerned about the bad state of the water in the river. According to residents, this has been a continuous challenge whenever it rains. One of the residents who asked to remain anonymous, said the areas around the river smells of sewerage. “Today when I was driving passed the river at End Avenue, I noted that there is white foam on the river banks mixed with black water. My concern is that this might pose as a health hazard for people who live close to the river. We have heard numerous stories about the sewage plant in Centurion that overflows when it rains. Others suggested that the filth in the water could stem from the informal settlements that are scattered around the area.”

A shop owner situated next to the lake, said the stench is affecting her business. Kobus Coetzee said if the council can address the challenge of illegal squatters, the problem may be solved. He said squatters litter everywhere and this contributes to the filth in the river.

Christa Spoelstra, Ward 65 Councillor, said when it’s flooding, all the rubbish that is littered in open fields goes into the Hennops River and this creates a challenge for all residents of Centurion. “The river is a mess and it has been an ongoing problem for years now. We have our inter-governmental meeting scheduled for next week Friday, 29 August, to address this issue. In the meantime, I will find out if officials know if something new has happened,” said Spoelstra. An inquiry has been sent to Tshwane metro and at the time of going to print no feed back has been received.