Residents outraged about sewage spillage
“All the households around this street are being affected by this issue. It has now reached a point where it has become unbearable."
Residents from Akasia, Pretoria North, are concerned and outraged about a sewage spillage in extension 31.
According to Kagiso Makgatho (45) from The Orchards, the spillage was reported to the Tshwane metro “numerous times, for months if not years, to no avail”.
The spillage occurs right behind Garden Road, where he lives. He said the metro worked on the spillage in February this year; however, it has not yet been repaired as is evident from the area.
“All the households around this street are being affected by this issue. It has now reached a point where it has become unbearable. Besides the awful smell we have to endure daily, I believe we do inhale some of the gases it emits and that impacts our health negatively,” Makgatho said.
“We have a constant problem with flies. They come into our houses and not only are they an awful pest, but pose a further health threat.”
He said residents have also started to illegally dump their rubbish there, “attracting all kind of problems that usually accompanies illegal dumping”.
“People have to raise children in this neighbourhood,” Makgatho said.
“This issue impacts the community members, the neighbourhood and the environment very negatively and should be addressed without any further delay. It has a direct influence on our livelihood.”
Makgatho said what he found disturbing was that “the municipality has been aware of this issue for months and possibly years”.
“It is not planning to do something about it and the problem is only getting worse. One can imagine with all the rain we have had how messy it got.”
According to local councillor Petrus Malope, “the issue was escalated to the metro two months ago”.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro has upon receipt of this query investigated to locate the blockage to fix it.
“The blockage could not be identified at the address provided and the sewer line in the area was flowing normally.”
He said further investigations were conducted and the blockage point was eventually located at an open veld in a manhole, which was also covered by rubble from illegal dumping onsite.
“Technicians attended to the blockage using a jetting truck on Saturday; however, due to the inaccessibility of the other manholes, the city had to organise a TLB [Tractor loader backhoe]to gain access. The team completed the repairs yesterday.”
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