Residents of Danville in Mahikeng, North West, say they are enduring unbearable conditions as raw sewage flows into their yards, posing severe health risks.
It is reported that sewage water flows from Mahikeng Psychiatric Hospital into residents’ yards.
The Democratic Alliance in the province says it plans to open a case with the South African Human Rights Commission against the Mahikeng Local Municipality, and the provincial health department.
Locals say their pleas for intervention have been ignored.
”We have been reporting this matter to the municipality several times but to no avail. I don’t know if they want us to protest first then they can intervene because they don’t take us seriously. Elderly people are sick because of this situation and most people who are living are pensioners.”
“I take pictures and videos. I sent them through to the municipal manager. There was one point when our yard and house were under water. The African National Congress councillor was here to take videos and pictures but nothing came out of it,” says one resident.
Provincial Health Department’s Tshegofatso Mothibedi says plans are afoot to address the challenge at hand.
”We have been experiencing a continuous concerted effort of high-level thievery and vandalism of the plant. Each time pumps and other systems that are assisting us are stolen by these criminals. So what we have done is to ensure that we appoint a contractor who will clear the raw sewer within the next two days. As part of bringing solutions to the current problems, we have approved the contractor that will start work to ensure that we build a new plant. We hope that this will be a deterrent.”
Danville residents vow to kick up a stink
