THE Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape has given the acting Municipal Manager of Phokwane municipality, Kealebogha Gaborone, an ultimatum to urgently repair sewerage infrastructure in Jan Kempdorp or else face the wrath of the law.
The official opposition party said one of the old pump stations is rusted through and the whole asbestos pipeline from Jan Kempdorp to Ganspan must be replaced in order to relieve the current sewerage challenges that are aggravated by the outdated and unmaintained sewerage system, that is crumbling and unable to keep up with the demands of the last 40 years of development.
Two bodies have already been found in the sewage that has dammed up at the silos.
The sewage is also seeping into boreholes, and at least two have already been found to be contaminated with E. coli.
DA councillor Annette van Wyk in the Phokwane Municipality said there is grave unhappiness amongst businesses in the industrial area, who have to put up with the stench of the sewage every day.
“A sewage river now also runs through the area, past the premises of GWK, where it seeps into their property, and also to across the road from Thwalang High School. This poses significant health risks and animals have been seen walking through the sewage. The sewage in the road is already pushing up into houses in Andalusia Park and in house at the “Lande”,” said Van Wyk.
“Sewerage related complaints have been lodged with the municipality for the past five years. The DA, together with farmers and other stakeholders, has also had engagements with the municipality, to no avail. We say to here, and no further.”
“We demand solutions now. Ms Gaborone and her team have up until August 15th to address the matter, share their proposed solutions with the community and provide me with their sewerage rehabilitation plan, failing which criminal charges will be laid against her.”
She said it was time for change, but it was increasingly clear that the ANC-run Phokwane doesn’t have the will or the know-how to turn this stinking situation around.
– Inside Metros
