Residents of Ward 35, Khuma Township, near Stilfontein in North West, are crying foul over worsening spilling sewage in their community.
The concerned residents – living in a Ward led by a Ward Councillor who is responsible for Community Services department said the situation poses a serious health hazard. The spillages do not only lead to a foul smell but also spill into their yards and even houses.
They have accused the City of Matlosana Local Municipality of not doing much to fix the problem.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana has alleged that service delivery is further hampered by transport challenges and poor resourcing.
The party said many municipal teams lack operational vehicles and proper protective equipment, delaying critical repairs and exposing workers to unsafe conditions.
“The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana has, over the past months, repeatedly raised concerns about the failing sewerage infrastructure in Orkney and surrounding areas.
“Despite ongoing calls for intervention, the situation continues to deteriorate posing serious health and environmental risks to residents.
“Municipal response times remain slow, and when repairs are undertaken, they are temporary and ineffective. The underlying issues, ageing infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and poor planning have been ignored for far too long.”
The DA has consistently demanded:
Immediate and permanent repairs to sewerage systems;
Accountability from officials responsible for ongoing failures;
Adequate resourcing for maintenance teams; and
Transparent communication with affected communities.
This is not a new crisis. It is the continuation of a problem the DA has been fighting to fix for months, with little to no response from the ANC-led administration.
