eMBALENHLE – Govan Mbeki Municipality’s executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, recently visited areas with serious sewage spills.
When speaking on water and sanitation to municipal employees who were present at one of the sites at extension 18, Mr Zuma blamed the municipality and service providers who were given the work to install sewerage pipes.
He said the municipality failed to properly plan before installing the pipes.
Mr Zuma said some contractors have done poor work, rushing through the job just to get the money, and the municipality failed to perform its monitoring role.
“Some of the pipes are not connected to the mainline but were just hidden in the soil as if connected.
“Those contractors took the money although they rendered poor work performance and that is why we have this problem today.
“I want everyone to know that we are not going to tolerate this anymore. Whether you are a service provider or our employee, if you don’t do what you are employed to do, we will apply serious actions against that particular employee or service provider,” said Mr Zuma.
Govan Mbeki Municipality is upgrading bulk lines and pump stations at extensions 5 and 24 at eMbalenhle to minimise spills.
Mr Zuma said excavation work is in progress at Ext 5, and site establishment has begun at Ext 24.
He assured residents that they are attending to the sewage challenge and taking responsibility.
Residents thanked Mr Zuma for visiting their area to see how they have to live.
Some said this was their first time to see a mayor since the inception of local government and they thought mayors were not supposed to be visible to the public.
“It is the first time for me to see any mayor.
“He came to my house unannounced, using his feet not a car and blue lights, When he came to my gate, I thought he was just a person who wanted to ask something but I was surprised when he introduced himself to me,” said Ms Nondumiso Mlambo.
“I showed him the sewage spill inside my house. He gave me hope and promised that he is attending to our problem of so many years,” said Ms Mlambo.
Mr Zuma said when both projects are completed, sewage spills will be minimal in the area.
