November 17, 2014 Posted in: Environmental Health, OurHealth
Posted in: Environmental Health, OurHealth

Residents refuse to pay municipal bills as sewage seeps in yards

17th November 2014 |
Residents refuse to pay municipal bills as sewage seeps in yardsIn 2011, a national task team noted the deplorable state of sewage systems in Makwassie, which regularly overflowed into streams, homes and rivers due to blockages (File photo)

Residents of the Northern Cape’s Lorato Park have refused to pay municipal bils until raw sewage alledgedly flooding their yards is clearned up.

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According to the South African Human Rights Commission, At least a quarter of households in formal areas do not have adequate sanitation “due to the deterioration of infrastructure caused by lack of technical ability to ensure effective operation, maintenance and refurbishment.” (file photo)
According to the South African Human Rights Commission, At least a quarter of households in formal areas do not have adequate sanitation (file photo)

According to residents, raw sewage has been pooling in the yards of houses in the area for about a month. Althought the problem has allegedly been reported to the municipality, nothing has been done to stem the flow of sludge in yards.

“We are scared that the overflowing sewage will affect not only our health but our houses as well because the walls of our houses are already starting to crack ,” resident Sarah Mangope told OurHealth.

The sewage has also been blamed for an outbreak of illness in the area.

Reprsentatives from the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality could not be reached for comment.