Sewage spill a cause for concern, Marcelle Maritz
Bosveld was invited to accompany Marcelle Maritz, Head Organiser of the Freedom Front Plus Limpopo, when she investigated the sewage spill in Sekgakgapeng outside Mokopane .
MOKOPANE – A sewage spill in Sekgakgapeng outside Mokopane has reportedly been spewing sewage for weeks and plaguing the surrounding residents.
Bosveld was invited to accompany Marcelle Maritz, Head Organiser of the Freedom Front Plus Limpopo, last Thursday to Sekgakgapeng where she investigated the sewage spill.
Sekgakgapeng displays a panoramic beauty, but only a few kilometres into the village a foetid smell hangs in the air and sewage and trash drift in the water.
Maritz said: “This is a real health concern and what is more alarming is the fact that the sewage is running into the Mogalakwena River.
“The river is the water source to numerous villages and their livestock.”
Maritz followed the stream of water where cattle quenched their thirst. What also made a huge impact is the number of households that are situated next to these horrific circumstances.
Concerned residents, Salomé Mabusela and Tiny Magwete told Bosveld this has been the situation for the last few months. “We are scared that our children are going to get sick.”
Maritz told Bosveld on Monday: “I have already laid a complaint at the Mogalakwena Municipality and I will accompany them to the site on Tuesday morning.
“If this matter does not receive immediate attention I will take the matter to the Department of Health. To have clean water is a basic right.”
The municipal Divisional Head of Communications, Malesela Selokela gave the following statement regarding the sewage spill: “The municipality is currently working on the issue.
“This problem occurred after an electrical cable was cut by people, who we believe were trying to steal it.
“As a result there was no supply of power to the pump machine and this led to the overflow of water to the river”.
He further said: “The municipality reported this matter to Eskom as it is their competency to fix it, but Eskom did not want to take the responsibility and referred it back to the municipality.
“This matter between Eskom and the municipality will be resolved”.
He concluded by saying: “The municipality’s Electrical Services Department and Technical Services Department are currently on site addressing the problem and hopefully by Friday this problem will be addressed.”
