Sewage poses health hazard

STEELPOORT – It is a known fact that personal hygiene is of utmost importance to South African citizens, but this priority has been sorely overlooked in this town’s CBD. A large sewage pipe burst two weeks ago at Mr Joseph Maunatlala’s house and the faeces are all over his yard.

As a result of the stench of the sewage, residents nearby can hardly eat in their own homes as flies come in and pester them while eating. “It kills one’s appetite,” said one of the neighbours.

Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the area and saw a group of children playing in the pools of sewage water in the nearby streets – the smell was unbearable.

The pipe passes through Maunatlala’s backyard. He now avoids staying at his home because of the stench.

“I am not enjoying the luxury of living in my house because of the sewage.

“I previously wrote to the Greater Tubatse Municipality to ask the technical director to remove the pipe in my yard and let it pass somewhere else,” he complained.

Maunatlala said the pipe had been giving him problems for the past 18 years. “For years it’s been bursting from time to time.

“They come to fix it, but after a week or two it will start stinking again.”

“Our kids play in the dirty water and the Sekhukhune District Municipality is ignoring this health hazard. I am afraid the children will contract fatal diseases like cholera and dysentery,” said one angry parent. Steelburger/Lydenburg News phoned spokesman for SDM,

Mr Willy Mosoma but it just rang. An email was forwarded to him regarding the issue.

At the time of going to print he had not yet responded.