No raw sewerage at Umbango River – Ugu
Ugu is failing to provide adequate services to it’s communities, yet expects them to pay for services they don’t receive.
Ugu municipality has refuted claims that it was dumping raw sewage into the Umbango River from its water treatment plant.
This follows numerous complaints from residents and businesses close by about the unbearable stench and poor state of the Umbango River.
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According to Ugu, this was as a result of a pump malfunction at Port Shepstone number 2 near the river, due to ingress of sand entering after heavy rains last week.
“This caused the pump to block, resulting in overflowing.”
Residents said they have had enough excuses from Ugu about the disgusting state of the river for many years.
Reshikah Singh of Umbango said what’s more concerning was the fact that the river flows onto Port Shepstone’s main beach.
“The beach is used by swimmers and fishermen on a daily basis, causing a health hazard to them and the fish at sea. This continues despite the fact that there are environmental regulations that protect rivers and streams from such.”
Miss Singh added that Ugu was failing to provide adequate services to it’s communities, yet it expected them to pay for services they don’t receive.
“Water and sanitation are Ugu’s main point of service delivery, but they can’t provide them and it’s really frustrating,” she added.
Ugu Spokesman France Zama said the Water Services team deployed VTS trucks to mitigate pollution of the Umbango river.
“Please note that the trucks were not discharging any liquid into the river as perceived by the public. They were merely syphoning sewage from the pump station and discharging into our main lines,” he said.
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