Sewage problem at Epilepsy South Africa Centre remains unresolved

The sewage problem at the Epilepsy South Africa Centre in Geduld has still not been resolved after two years.
When the Advertiser visited the centre in 2018, the sewage spill was so bad it was preventing the organisation from planting a vegetable garden.
The centre feeds over 250 people each day, including residents and day workers, with the food they grow on site.
Although the flow of sewage has lessened, it still occasionally bubbles up to the surface, leaving a horrendous stench.
Staff at the centre are concerned about the impact on the health of their residents, some of whom have compromised immune systems.

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The sewage, which runs along the boundary wall of the centre, is also damaging the wall and polluting the adjacent veld.
“The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has been aware of the problem since it first started and initially blamed another company for the problem,” said ward councillor Dean Stone.
“Now, whenever the centre reports the blockage problem, the CoE utilises a honeysucker truck and unblocks the pipes.
“This is a temporary fix, which means the centre has to call the CoE every time there is a blockage.
“The centre doesn’t have the manpower or the authority to fix the problem as it is CoE property,” said Stone.
“Additionally, funds received by the centre are used to provide residents with food and medication, as well as the running costs of the centre, such as rates, electricity and salaries of the centre’s employees.”

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Stone visited the centre on Thursday and was not impressed by what he saw.
He said he would investigate what CoE has done and would look at the possibility of getting new pipes installed at the centre.
Comment requested from the CoE will be published once it has been received.

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