eMbalenhle community is fed up with sewage

Residents of the Wellas section in eMbalenhle are fed up with ongoing sewage spills damaging their properties and posing health hazards.

They claim that their complaints and reports to the Govan Mbeki Municipality have led to many unfulfilled promises.

Nhlanhla Moamogoe, an affected resident, stated that this is the first time they have experienced sewer overflow in their toilets.

“Now we are accustomed to it happening monthly. The municipality comes to unblock it temporarily, but the problem starts again,” she explained.

“It is difficult for us to eat because of the stench, and this sewage will destroy our homes. Our ward councillor keeps promising that they will fix it, but nothing has happened.

“This infringes on our right to live in a healthy environment, especially since we can’t even use our toilets because sewage is overflowing from the toilet bowl. Is this a healthy environment in which we are living?

“Our municipality does not have a permanent solution for sewer spills. We always hear that the contractors appointed for the sewer network upgrade have been terminated,” said Moamogoe.

Democratic Alliance PR councillor Anita Mkhwebane added that the sewage spills in the area also damage roads that are not maintained by the municipality.

“When community members report the spills to the call centre, it takes a week or two for them to respond.

“I reported these sewage spills directly to those responsible, but they told me they don’t have the necessary tools. I was shocked because late last year, GMM employed many people to assist with service delivery. How can the municipality employ people while there is a shortage of tools?” asked Mkhwebane.

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She noted that raw sewage flows from manholes into the streets and homes, posing a health hazard. The acting communications manager for the municipality, Donald Green, stated that their sewerage teams are on-site clearing a backlog of sewer blockages in the Govan Mbeki Municipality and surrounding areas.

He acknowledged that a shortage of equipment has contributed to this backlog. Green mentioned that the complaint had been reported to the call centre, and a team had been dispatched to address the issue. He added that the municipality is actively attending to sewer-related blockages in eMbalenhle.

“Residents are urged not to dispose of foreign objects in the system to avoid blockages and overflows. Fixing blocked or broken sewer lines is addressed as soon as they are identified or reported.

“The municipality is committed to resolving sewage spillages promptly and apologises for the inconvenience this is causing residents,” said Green.

He also encouraged residents to report blockages and overflows to the call center at 0800 6000 01/2/4, or by sending a WhatsApp to 083 790 0659 or 082 343 2422, or via email at callcentre@govanmbeki.gov.za, so that they can be resolved as quickly as possible.

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