5 days ago
Call to end ‘decade-long' sewage overflow in Block H
The residents of Block H in Soshanguve are pleading for urgent and permanent intervention as a sewer leak is flooding a busy road.
The leak has reportedly persisted for almost a decade and affects the road used by taxis, buses, motorists, pedestrians, and schoolchildren.
Community activist Raymond Mpeko, who resides in Block H with his family and also represents neighbouring Ward 33, has raised the alarm about the hazardous conditions caused by the constant sewer overflow near stands 250 and 252.
'This drainage issue has existed for more or less 10 years. It's not the first time I've reported it. In fact, I've lost count.
'Most of the time, I report it without even consulting the affected household because I know the danger it poses to all of us.'
According to Mpeko, the problem is usually met with temporary solutions that last only about three weeks to a month before the sewage resurfaces.
He added that despite logging a complaint over a week ago, there was no immediate response.
'It floated there for another five days before any attention was given. It's emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting for affected households,' he said.
Mpeko said residents are being failed by a system that shows no urgency in dealing with issues.
'Cadre deployment and lack of accountability are dragging service delivery backwards.
'The community is paying for services such as water, electricity, and refuse, yet we are made to live in conditions that are simply inhumane.'
Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the source of the blockage was due to an illegal sewer connection at Stand 252, which impacted the line at Stand 250.
After conducting a site inspection, the municipality reported that the owner of Stand 252 has now agreed to allow workers access to break the connection and carry out spot repairs.
Mpeko said this is not just sewage but a symbol of how broken the system is.
'We don't need more empty promises. We need action, accountability, and a municipality that truly puts people first.'
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