Kliptown residents battle raw sewage and illegal dumping crisis

Residents in Kliptown informal settlement are battling with sewage and illegal dumping.

Residents are worried about their health and their safety, especially for young children, who play with dumped items like injection needles.

Lerato Mmoso, a resident of Kliptown, said they live in a yard with a sewage source.

She explained that some traditional healers visit the site and carry out rituals, such as leaving coins at the source.

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“It’s too risky because children are tempted to pick up the coins from the source, which is not good for their health,” she said.

Mmoso added that she has a child with a disability who does not live with her because of the wet conditions around the area.

Lebohang Tomanyane, a tavern and tuck shop owner, said that this affects his business because there is too much smell that comes from the sewage and customers are affected by a heavy smell.

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“I had to wake up and try to clear a path for the drainage because the sewage is not even flowing”, he said.

Mercia Jacobs, a Kliptown resident, said that she stays near the illegal dumping site. When she cooks, the pots are surrounded by the flies.

“My daughter is pregnant, and the doctor said we must be hygienic, but how are we going to do that if the flies are in the house?”

Jacobs added that they contacted the councillor, who visited three years ago and has not returned since.
Ward 17 Clr Dwain Ponsonby said, “I have escalated this issue, including the MEC of Environment.”