Sewage in Mookgophong reason for concern

“I write this letter for Bosveld’s readers to expose yet another municipality that makes promises on service delivery, but these promises never or seldom come to fruition.”

These are the words of Lucas Bornman, a member of AfriForum and landowner in Mookgophong who stated that raw sewage started to overflow from manholes in the gardens of residents of extension 6 (RDP houses) in 2008.

“The problem extended further when a farmers’ dam that supplied water to his cattle, started to fill with the raw sewage.

“The technical manager as well as the Social and Environmental manager of Mookgophong and the health inspector of the Waterberg District Council visited the site.

“The community forum called for a meeting between the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), municipal manager and the community on 6 November 2009 to address this same problem. At this meeting the community were not allowed to address the problem as the municipal manager and DWA representative refused to allow this.

“The municipality and DWA representative had a private meeting prior to the meeting with the Community Forum.

2010

“A complaint was lodged, on 26 January 2010, with the local police and a case was opened for spilling of raw sewerage on farmland and still nothing happened. In February 2010 tests were done (Escherichia coli bacteria count per 100 ml Method applied MMP 8) on the water in the farmers’ dam, at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with the following results: inlet of the dam 8 685 and the outlet of the dam 2 640.

2011

“During 2011 the sewerage kept on overflowing and the municipality was informed on various occasions.On 9 November 2011, a letter from the head of Afriforum Environmental Affairs were delivered to the municipality and they acknowledge receipt with a date stamp.

“The farmer and the AfriForum branch contacted the municipality again 20 December 2011 and in particular the technical manager about a severe sewage spill. He informed them that the staff was on holiday and on their return in January 2012 the problem will be addressed. This was not the case.

2012

“In June 2012 two officials from Limpopo DWA visited the Community Forum and inquired whether the spillage problems identified since 2008 have been solved. They were given all the documents and letters that were sent to various people and until today no word or feedback was received from them.

“In the technical report of the acting technical manager, the following, on page 43 of the Council Agenda: Pump no. 2: motor out of order since 4 November 2012 on page 45 the following: The situation is worsened by the fact that only one instead of two pumps are in operation for recycling of sludge.

2013

Afriforum sent a letter to the minister, Ms Molewa, MP on 12 August 2013 of which her office acknowledged receipt of such.

“Since 5 August 2013 raw sewage was pumped into a storm water channel on its way to the Nylriver which holds one of the biggest wetlands in the country stretching from Modimole to Mokopane,” Bornman wrote in his letter.

2015

“It is now 2015 and the saga continues. Afriforum again addressed a letter to the DWA who then contacted the chairperson of Afriforum from the Mokopane office to set up a meeting to discuss resolution of the problem.

“This meeting took place at the Mookgophong municipal premises on 18 August. Present were Zebulon Nkosi and three of his officials from the DWA, Clifford Makofane technical manager of the municipality, Philip van Staden chairperson of Afriforum branch, myself and Gert Nieuwenhuizen, both land owners in the area.

“The meeting was held in a positive attitude and the parties welcomed Makofane’s explanation that a booster pump will be installed to resolve the sewage spillage that endanger the lives of people and animals as well as our ecosystem within the Grootvalley Protected Area.

“He also indicated we will see results within three weeks and the officials from DWA should not wait five weeks for follow-up. We applauded his boldness and embraced his dedication and offered our support where we can.

“We also pointed out to him to communicate with us on a regular basis whilst the problem is being attended to.

“It was made clear to Makofane that we as land owners do not trust the municipality officials as they have in the past made promises and displayed no integrity. Makofane indicated that as there is a new council we should give him a chance as he will ensure problems are fixed. The party, excluding Makofane, visited the site where the spillage occurred.

“On 28 August Elizabeth Modikoa, who also attended the meeting on the 18th, sent an e-mail indicating that the submission (minutes of the meeting) has been sent to the MEC, Seaparo Sekoati and DWA was advised not to distribute the minutes but to monitor the progress at Mookgophong regarding the spillage.

“I responded by e-mail saying that it appears that the meeting was not that important as the minutes were withheld from the participants and I also doubt that a responsible person like the MEC would withheld such important information and I am convinced that the minutes were never put to him but that some official decided not to distribute the minutes.

“I had no response to this from DWA. Elizabeth Modikoa again sent an e-mail on 10 September requesting feedback on progress. I responded that apart from some material delivered at the site, nothing has changed. The spillage of sewage is even worse than when DWA visited the site on the 18th. As a matter of fact a big ‘wetland’ has developed in the veld.

“We have heard of no problems hampering the completion of the booster pump installation and unsurprisingly this municipality chose to continue as before and ignore to communicate with those that are affected and that can give them support.

“DWA indicated at the meeting of 18 August that they will visit the site in five weeks’ time to evaluate the situation. This follow-up should therefore take place on 22 September. At time of writing this letter (21 September) no indication from DWA was received on the visit and follow-up. Zebulon Nkosi did say that he and his department are no Mr and Mrs Promises. So we are hopeful that the follow-up will take place,” Bornman concluded his letter.

Read the comment received from The Mookgophong Muncipality in Bosveld Review