Polluted east river prevents religious expression
A Mamelodi West church has complained that a sewerage spill into Moretele River is preventing it from practising its religion.
A Mamelodi West church has complained that a sewerage spill into Moretele River is preventing it from practising its religion.
Solly Mogano from Zion Christian Church in Mamelodi said a blocked sewer in a nearby park spilt wastewater into the river in Moretele View, Mamelodi West.
He said the pollution of the river was so foul that his church could not baptise converts.
He said the “rivers of foul-smelling water”could no longer be used for baptisms as had been the case for more than 50 years.
He said this prevented the followers of the faith from being cleansed of their sin.
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He said raw sewage had spilled into the river “nonstop” since the beginning of April.
He said the blocked sewer was reported for the first time around March, and the municipal workers had come to unblock it.
“Later, it was blocked again and they came to unblock and told us the blockage due to a pile of stones inside the pipe,” he said.
“We reported it blocked again in April, but we are still waiting for the Tshwane metro unblock it this time.”
Mogano said each time the workers unblocked the sewer, the problem started again almost immediately.
He said the river was unhealthy for baptisms and congregants were afraid to go anywhere near the water.
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“They say it is unsafe for them.”
Mogano said the river was supposed to heal “but how can a contaminated river heal?”.
He said the church desperately needed help with the sewer, not just because it prevented them from practising their faith but also because of a polluted the river caused major upheaval to the ecosystem.
He said they complained to local ward councillor Percy Zitha about the blocked sewer and he promised to look into the matter.
However, Zitha said he had heard of the blocked sewer for the first time from Rekord.
He said he and the municipal workers were on the scene of another blocked sewer in his ward as he spoke to Rekord and would look into the church complaint when he was done.
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