Raw sewage is still flowing freely into the Vaal River at TLC, Sakhile.
The Standerton Advertiser published an article in November last year, after visiting the area, about the defunct pump station.
Pheello Mlotshwa, a community worker from Sakhile, accompanied the newspaper to the site.
The pumps, as reported, were not running and trucks dumped sewage daily at the pump station.
The sewage flows towards a manhole, pushing upwards towards the houses.
Mlotshwa said in the past that Lekwa Municipality appointed a contractor to install new pipes.
“The contractor told me on October 27 that everything was ready to be handed over to the municipality,” he then said.
The bottom line is that sewage is still spilling into the river and secondly, that the project has not been officially handed over.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted the communications manager of Lekwa, Thobeka Mtshiselwa, via WhatsApp, on November 10.
Enquiries were made as to a) whether there has been a delay in the official handing over of the pump station at TLC; b) reason/s for this delay; c) why trucks still dump raw sewage at TLC and d) whether a policy for protection of environmental resources has yet been drafted.
Mlotshwa contacted the newspaper on Wednesday, March 30 and sent photos of the debacle.
He also reported the problem to his ward councillor, Corné Stoltz.
According to Mlotshwa, Stoltz plans to open a criminal case against the municipality.
Stoltz confirmed on Thursday, March 31 that the Centre for Environmental Rights has been contacted and talks are underway for litigation.
The newspaper resent the November-enquiries to Lekwa the same day and is awaiting comment.
