Despite reporting about a raw sewage leak earlier last month the manhole is still open and the site still bears signs of the raw sewage remains.
The week after the article was published the news took a representative of the Mogale City Parks Department to the site after she allegedly was unable to find it.
When the news reached the site where the sewage had been gushing out for five months, it was clear that someone from the municipality already knew about the problem as it was clear that someone tried to cover the evidence with soil close to the fence of the Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital.
The shocked representative, after seeing what was left of the untouched site on the grounds of the hospital, said that must have been the reason why she could not find it.
She said that the open manholes are a danger and that she would report it.
An environmental specialist within the municipality told the news on condition of anonymity that the water and sanitation department unblocked the pipes.
He said the problem could have been caused by the pipes either being too old or too small to carry the load and therefore became blocked.
“If the problem persists one needs to look at the current infrastructure and decide whether it needs to be replaced.”
Regarding the kilolitres of raw sewage that spilled into the Blougatspruit branching from Coronation Dam, he says the situation will be monitored by chemical tests.
“The raw sewage spilled into the spruit, which flows past Munsieville and straight to the Cradle of Humankind area,” he says.
“Although the water needs to be tested, it is difficult as the sewage gets washed away.”
The news forwarded a request for comment to Nkosana Zali, municipal spokesperson but none has been forthcoming. news journalist Jacobus Myburgh is appealing to the spokesperson to contact him on 011 955 1130 or via email jakesm@caxton.co.za to discuss and explain the matter.
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