Jan du Plessis, chairperson of AfriForum, raised serious issues about the pump stations in Evander.

This includes sewage being dumped in the field instead of being disposed of in a container and taken to sewage treatment works; failure to clean the pipes around the pump stations; and the pump station on Alberta Road not working at all.

Donald Green, media liaison of the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM), could not tell the Ridge Times when the last time was that municipal employees visited the pump station.

He said GMM notes the serious concerns raised by the community about the operational status of the Alberta Road pump station and alleged illegal dumping of waste into nearby fields.

“The municipality takes all allegations of environmental non-compliance and infrastructure neglect with the utmost seriousness,” said Green.

“It is not municipal policy or common practice to dispose of sewage into fields.

“Standard protocol dictates that liquid waste is pumped through the reticulation network to the Evander Wastewater Treatment Works.

“Main lines and surrounding networks are structurally scheduled for proactive maintenance and high-pressure jetting to mitigate blockages.

“The Water and Sanitation Section is aware of systemic challenges across regional networks.

“A technical assessment is underway to determine the extent of the repairs needed at Alberta Road. A definitive repair schedule will be communicated once parts are secured.

“While preventative schedules exist, severe ongoing challenges, including budget constraints, ageing infrastructure and rampant site vandalism, frequently force teams into a reactive breakdown management cycle.

“The municipality has dispatched an inspection team to the Alberta Road facility to investigate the allegations of illegal dumping and to expedite the restoration of the pump station.”

ALSO READ: Community needs businesses’ help to get parkrun off the ground in Evander