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STINKING: Swerage has gathered in open areas along the streets of Monyakeng, Wesselsbron, Free State. In other parts of the township raw sewerage has formed into small dams. PHOTOS: TSHEKO KABASIA

UNCOVERED: A sewerage plant that is dysfunctional after millions of rands were spent to improve sanitation.

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It is understood that part of the money was supposed to have been allocated to the bucket eradication programme, which has yet to yield positive results.

There are vast areas where sewerage has gathered in the open areas, especially between houses, threatening to be a serious health hazard.

In some areas of Monyakeng raw sewage has even formed dams, mostly due to poor excavation work, and has overflowed into manholes.

It runs down streets between houses, blocking whole streets in most areas.

Residents have complained that the bucket eradication process was a failure and waste of money.

Worse still, the sewerage plant is non-functional, is uncovered and unsecured, with no visible fencing, which has led to criminals taking advantage of the breach.

Enerst Moholoholo and Masabata Lekone are among the residents who are still using the old bucket system despite the government's promise to phase out the system.

The two neighbours have complained that it took the municipality about two months to remove the filled buckets.

They have dug holes in their yards where they tipped the mess.

Lindiwe Boneni is among those who have used their own money to connect their toilets to the sewer pipes that had been left incomplete.

Malehlonolo Mokhashane lives in one of the streets that are flooded with sewerage. She complained that, since 2010, her family had been suffering from tuberculosis.

"Last year my pregnant daughter was lifted over a neighbour's fence in order to be taken by ambulance to hospital," Mokhashane said.

"We are living like animals. If you want to go somewhere, you are forced to cross through neighbours' yards."

A KPMG forensic report has revealed massive corruption and maladministration in the municipality.

The report also revealed that some companies were paid large sums of money despite failing to honour their contracts.

To date the municipality had not retrieved a cent from the companies appointed to complete the project.

Eight consultants were paid a combined fee of R38206251. The municipality also spent R25588712. 25, on material supply.

The municipality incurred an over-expenditure of about R35-million. In some instances large sums of money cannot be accounted for.

Some payments were made without proper supporting documentation.

Department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokeswoman Senne Bogatsu said, while acknowledging some of the sanitation installation was not done correctly, they were in the process of addressing the issue holistically.

"To this end the matter has been addressed through the highest office in the province," she said.

"The implementation of the KPMG resolutions regarding non-performing service providers is an ongoing process."

She said these two companies' process had been completed and any other company that did not deliver services would be summoned to account and would have to give the municipality a refund.

Comments

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Tue May 21 23:55:23 SAST 2013 ::

Mar 29, 2012

Knoxmann

Is this what Andris Tatane died for?
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Mar 29, 2012

Shredder

Stinky phuu!!! I am not going to talk about corruption and the government being inefficient. I am just not going to vote for them again. Madam Zille here I come.
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Mar 29, 2012

NevusAuvius

hak thabeng tsa Leribe
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Mar 29, 2012

Msandi

Saddening they have to go through this. But Next time they are in the voting booth, they need to decide whether they want to reward history or improve their lives with their vote. If they want services and a better future, they have the power of democracy on their hands!
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Mar 29, 2012

tlebebe

calling a place monyakeng when is flooded with poo,
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Mar 29, 2012

MommaC

"The implementation of the KPMG resolutions regarding non-performing service providers is an ongoing process."

Well I'm sure that is of great comfort to the poor sods who are doing the highland fling to avoid the turds in the street.

This is becoming so 'normal' that it has lost its ability to shock.
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Mar 29, 2012

2bsManyoba

@Knoxmann, true indeed sir.
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Mar 29, 2012

ke-tla-go-ja-gore

God should wi*pe us all out and begin a new world, were everybody is naked and stu*pid. Now we are all clever and everybody who speaks louder will push his/her own agenda more than the others. Tsek..
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Mar 29, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

So eight consultants were paid over 30 bar and the place is like a sh1t staye when payments were released did the municipal project managers confirm that the work was done???????? This things takes comon sense is just that the laziness of poohblic servant result in this pooh state of affairs sies maan!
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Mar 29, 2012

maezizsto68

And those municipal officials live in luxurious houses.
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