TWO towns in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, are confronted with a foul smell because of broken sewerage pipes.
Residents of Kempton Park and of Strubenvale in Springs breathe the dirty air as a result of overflowing sewage in their areas.
In Kempton Park, the affected residents said the pipes have been damaged for three weeks but those responsible have turned a blind eye to the problem.
"We have tried in vain to get them to fix the pipes but no one bothers," resident Phillip Montsho said.
"We can't even have visitors anymore because they are all scared of getting diseases. Our area stinks," he said.
Residents blame the sewerage spillage on a company appointed by Telkom to replace underground cables.
They accused the company, known only as Mohlang, of prioritising money over their health.
"We have told them to fix the pipes but our pleas were ignored," said another resident, Johannes McKenzie.
The company's site manager, Keith Wilde, said the pipes were damaged after excavation work.
"We tried four times to fix the pipes and every time we think it is sorted, it starts again.
"We have now called in experts to come and take a look so that it can be fixed once and for all," he said
At Strubenvale residents said the sewerage problem emerged after the East Rand Water Care Company's (ERWAT) filters broke.
"Consequently, its Ancor Sewage Works Treatment plant pumped partially treated water into the environment," said the Brown Motsau, manager at the Monitoring Action Project.
The project, chaired by Jo Seoka, was initiated by Bench Marks Foundation in 2009 to observe and document the effects industry had on the lives of community members and environment.
Motsau said though ERWAT had fixed one of the three broken filters, he estimated that 5 million litres of sewage had escaped from the pipes.
"Residents are angered by this," he said.
"They want a system that will clean the water thoroughly. This will also help to contain the situation for the sake of drinking supply, the environment and the health of community members."
Attempts to get comments from the municipality failed.
Motsau has also accused the Ekurhuleni municipality of being slow to respond to the problem.
In terms of the National Environment Act, anyone or the responsible authority that fails to prevent the environment from being polluted can be charged with a crime.
Broken pipes cause sewage to overflow
TWO towns in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, are confronted with a foul smell because of broken sewerage pipes.
Residents of Kempton Park and of Strubenvale in Springs breathe the dirty air as a result of overflowing sewage in their areas.
In Kempton Park, the affected residents said the pipes have been damaged for three weeks but those responsible have turned a blind eye to the problem.
"We have tried in vain to get them to fix the pipes but no one bothers," resident Phillip Montsho said.
"We can't even have visitors anymore because they are all scared of getting diseases. Our area stinks," he said.
Residents blame the sewerage spillage on a company appointed by Telkom to replace underground cables.
They accused the company, known only as Mohlang, of prioritising money over their health.
"We have told them to fix the pipes but our pleas were ignored," said another resident, Johannes McKenzie.
The company's site manager, Keith Wilde, said the pipes were damaged after excavation work.
"We tried four times to fix the pipes and every time we think it is sorted, it starts again.
"We have now called in experts to come and take a look so that it can be fixed once and for all," he said
At Strubenvale residents said the sewerage problem emerged after the East Rand Water Care Company's (ERWAT) filters broke.
"Consequently, its Ancor Sewage Works Treatment plant pumped partially treated water into the environment," said the Brown Motsau, manager at the Monitoring Action Project.
The project, chaired by Jo Seoka, was initiated by Bench Marks Foundation in 2009 to observe and document the effects industry had on the lives of community members and environment.
Motsau said though ERWAT had fixed one of the three broken filters, he estimated that 5 million litres of sewage had escaped from the pipes.
"Residents are angered by this," he said.
"They want a system that will clean the water thoroughly. This will also help to contain the situation for the sake of drinking supply, the environment and the health of community members."
Attempts to get comments from the municipality failed.
Motsau has also accused the Ekurhuleni municipality of being slow to respond to the problem.
In terms of the National Environment Act, anyone or the responsible authority that fails to prevent the environment from being polluted can be charged with a crime.
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