General manager of Dainfern Valley, Dave Weyers told Fourways Review that the residents were getting a raw deal from Joburg Water. He alleged that Joburg Water officials were not responding to their distress calls for help.
“The Jukskei flows through the Dainfern Valley Estate – and numerous surrounding estates, as well as many homes and businesses further upstream,” said Weyers.
“We have noticed raw sewage flowing down the river for a number of weeks and, obviously, this comes with an unbearable stench. All this then finally ends up in the Hartebeespoort Dam.”
He shared with this papers pictures of used condoms, tissues and other sanitary items flowing in the river. “We have made numerous calls to Joburg Water, attempted to get hold of the water department and also involved the Blue Scorpions.
“All we get are reference numbers and a promise to investigate. As a last resort, we have turned to Caxton Newspapers to please assist with getting these departments to respond,” said Weyers.
He also made an appeal to their newly elected Ward 96 councillor, Sbusiso Mthembu to assist the residents. Mthembu said he was not aware of the problem when this paper contacted him for comment.
The new councillor promised to take the residents’ problem to the City of Johannesburg. “This is the first time I am hearing this problem. I will, however, escalate it to the relevant municipal department. As you know, I have just taken over from Matome Mafokwane, so some of these challenges are new to me,” said Mthembu who invited residents to raise their problems with him.
Johannesburg Water Stakeholders manager, Tidimalo Chuene did not respond to a set of questions sent to him last week.
