Eastern Cape urged to intervene in Makhanda sewage and water crisis

By Thapelo Molefe

The DA has urged the Eastern Cape government to intervene in Scott’s Farm and Vergenoeg in Makhanda, where residents are facing sewage overflows, unreliable water supply and damaged housing.

DA Frontier Constituency Leader Jane Cowley said she had written to Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Williams and Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works, Infrastructure and Human Settlements Siphokazi Lusithi, calling for urgent action in the two communities.

“The Makana Municipality has completely reneged on their legislative responsibility to provide drinking water to residents, who are now totally dependent upon the goodwill of non-profit organisations such as Gift of the Givers for access to drinking water,” Cowley said on Wednesday.

Cowley said residents were being forced to depend on non-profit organisations for drinking water after the municipality failed to provide a reliable supply.

She said raw sewage was flowing through streets and collecting