Frustrated Pretoria North resident plead for urgent action over sewage leak and illegal dumping
The leak, located near the intersection of East Street and Gerrit Maritz Street, had worsened over the time, emitting a foul odour that made it nearly impossible for staff to continue working.
For the past three weeks, residents and business owners along East Street in Pretoria North have been grappling with an unresolved sewage leak that has caused a major disruption.
Anita van Rensburg of Quickfit Cupboards has been the most affected resident, with factory staff working under unbearable conditions caused by the smell and hazard of contamination.
Van Rensburg said the company’s employees, fed up with the metro’s inaction, have resorted to cleaning the street themselves.
However, their efforts are continually undone as illegal dumping and criminal activity keep plaguing the area.
“I’ve worked here for about 10 years, and I’ve never seen this street clean.
“Every time we clean it, the next morning, it’s back to square one. People burn wires, and there’s constant dumping. The fence near the railway has been stolen multiple times,” she said.
The sewage issue has been an ongoing problem but little progress was made by the Tshwane metro until recently.
According to Van Rensburg, numerous calls were made daily, but responses from the metro were unhelpful, with various reasons for delays.
The leak, located near the intersection of East Street and Gerrit Maritz Street, had worsened over time, emitting a foul odour that made it nearly impossible for staff to continue working.
The smell infiltrated both the business premises and the surrounding neighbourhood, causing health concerns.
“The smell is terrible, and it’s unbearable for our staff to work under these conditions. It’s been going on for weeks, and we don’t see an end in sight.”
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo stated that the repair delays were due to a blockage in the pipeline, which required spot repairs to be conducted.
He said the blockage was cleared after an extended week-long intervention.
“The sewer blockage was cleared following a series of attempts to remove an obstruction in the pipeline.
“Unfortunately, the obstruction in the pipeline necessitated a longer intervention than was initially anticipated,” said Mashigo.
Despite the resolution, residents remained concerned about future occurrences and the overall state of sanitation in the area.
Illegal dumping continues to be a major issue with the Waste and Environmental Management Department monitoring the area but struggling to keep it clean.
Residents have called on the metro to implement stricter measures to prevent future sewage leaks and to address illegal dumping, which continues to be a daily occurrence.
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