Sol Plaatje municipality needs to act with haste to attend to yet another growing sewage lake in Southridge, in Kimberley.
An oversight inspection of the area by myself today confirmed that the lake continues to grow despite the latest promise to attend to the matter having been made on Thursday last week, by Sol Plaatje Mayor, Kagisho Sonyoni.
Sewage has been pushing up behind Elizabeth Conradie (Elcon) School, and in the vicinity of the suburb of Southridge, for at least three years already. It has since formed a marshy lake in the thick scrub, that is believed to stretch for approximately 300 meters from the veld, onto the school field, and towards Southridge, where it borders the walls of private residences. Sewage has also started spilling into Smart Street, threatening the viability of the road.
The situation presents a direct risk to the city’s already battered road network. In addition, the smell of sewage and the associated health risks presented by the open sewage spills, present a daily health hazard, while the stench makes living, working and attending school in the area, unpleasant. School sport at Elcon is also compromised, especially after heavy rain, when the sewage pushes up onto the field.
The tendency of Sol Plaatje to fail to address numerous sewage and water leaks, over a period of many years, is a longstanding problem, that is slowly but surely transforming the city into a filthy waterfront.
The DA will bring the matter under the attention of the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul. We will also launch a petition whereby we will insist that action must be taken in respect of the sewerage leaks. We simply cannot afford for this to continue unabated.