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File | Sewage spillage.
Raw sewage flowing down the streets of Makeleketla in Winburg, Free State, has angered residents. They say their quality of life has deteriorated as the stench keeps them confined to their houses.
Residents have called on the Masilonyana local municipality to find a permanent solution. Residents say they have been living in unbearable conditions since September last year, as raw sewage continues to spill into their homes and run through the streets.
According to residents, overflowing sewer lines have turned roads into streams of sewage, while the stench has made it difficult to breathe or live comfortably. They say the smell is so overpowering that many are forced to keep windows and doors shut throughout the day.
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Residents say the ongoing sewage problem has disrupted their daily lives and raised serious health concerns, especially for children and the elderly. They claim repeated complaints have been made, but the situation remains unresolved months later.
“We reported this sewage a number of times to the municipality. I work there. They came, opened the hole, checked it and made something like a path for the water to flow into the river, but later the spillages started again. I asked my neighbour to join me in reporting the matter. We went to the contractor who was working there and they said the fault is with the municipality,” says a resident.
“We are struggling with sewage in the location. There are two streets, Roton Row and Riverside. Our kids cannot play, and even inside our houses the smell is bad. We cannot speak, eat or do anything because of the smell, and we are going to catch TB or some kind of sickness,” explains another resident.
“One affected community member, says the raw sewage is entering their home, flooding rooms and damaging furniture,” adds another resident.
The resident says overflowing sewer lines have turned nearby streets into streams of waste, while the strong and persistent stench has made living conditions unbearable.
“The sewage enters our houses especially when it’s raining. We have to use buckets to take it out. Even the foundation of the house is flat making it easier for the sewage mixed with rain water to enter,” says a resident.
Meanwhile, the Masilonyana Municipality technical director, Themba Mthimkhulu, says they are aware of the sewage challenges in the Makelaketla area. He added that municipal officials have attributed the problem to infrastructure failures. Mthimkhulu says plans are in place to address the situation.
“The municipality has made plans, some of which are being undertaken by various service providers as we speak, including the upgrading of the outfall sewer network in Winburg, where efforts are underway to diversify and capacitate the system so that it meets the required demand. The project was recently implemented and is currently 92% complete,” he adds.
Residents say they are still waiting for permanent solutions as sewage continues to flow through their neighbourhood. They say that no community should be forced to live under such conditions.
