The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Green Scorpions to urgently intervene in Wrenchville’s escalating sewage crisis after more than four years of municipal failure and no solution in sight.
In 2022, when the DA first reported the sewage spills to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), a local school had been surrounded by raw sewage for more than two months before the municipality finally cleared a blocked sewer line.
Four years and many complaints later, little has changed as residents continue to endure overflowing manholes, sewage-filled roads and unacceptable health risks.
In some areas, residents have had to close off streets because of the extent of the contamination. In another, sewage is flowing past a crèche, placing young children at risk. Meanwhile, residents are reportedly being told that repairs cannot be carried out because a manhole is square instead of round.
What should be a public health emergency has become part of daily life in Wrenchville, threatening public health, damaging infrastructure, polluting the environment and stripping residents of their dignity.
This is a complete failure of local government.
The DA has lodged a complaint with the Green Scorpions and is calling for urgent enforcement action to compel the municipality to stop the ongoing pollution and fulfil its legal obligations.
While we have little confidence that the ANC-led municipality will find the will to act, the DA will continue fighting for residents and to hold those responsible accountable.
The lasting solution, however, lies at the ballot box. We are calling on residents to register to vote and elect a local government that takes sanitation, public health and basic service delivery seriously.
Wrenchville deserves better than sewage streets.