Concerns brew over rampant sewer leaks

The disturbing amount of effluent flowing into streams and roads in especially Sibongile and the Glencoe area has forced the Endumeni Civic & Residents Association to approach the High Court to step in.

Mzwakhe Sithebe and Garth Simpson of the association, and others, took the Courier to an in-loco inspection of Sibongile on Friday, where overflowing manholes and leaking sewer pipes have caused a stench to hang over the area. Disturbingly, the effluent flows in various locations between houses and ultimately into the Steenkoolspruit that in turn flows into the Buffalo River, from where Endumeni extracts most of its water for domestic use. Cattle, goats and even a horse were seen grazing on the green grass near the pools of effluent. Residents in Langa Street say the leak from a manhole upstream had been ‘going on for months’.

There is a similar situation in Khumalo Street (the last street in the township), where residents are confronted with a river of effluent.
Of particular concern is a leaking pipe under a railway bridge at the end of the Avon industrial area.
“The pipe appears to be quite large and the discharge is gushing out and flows into the spruit. The environmental crisis is impacted upon by the severe dumping of domestic refuse in these streams,” said Sithebe, adding that ‘environmental awareness programmes are needed to inform the community that their health is dependent on a healthy environment’.

Simpson said that, with the municipality ‘not regularly collecting litter in certain areas’, residents often had little alternative but to seek other ways of get rid of refuse.
Residents have called on the municipality to offer black bags to households, as is done in other towns.
Sithebe said that both the local and district municipality had been urged in writing from an attorneys office, engaged by the ECRA, to take urgent measures to carry out repairs to the ‘rampant leaks’.

“We have had no feedback for months – hence we are taking up the matter with the High Court. Section 24 of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and also the right to have the environment protected from pollution and ecological degradation, which promotes conservation and secures ecologically sustainable development.

“The municipalities are compelled to respect, promote, protect and fulfil the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights and is obligatory to all spheres of government.
“We have exhausted all dignified means to vent public frustrations emanating from a lack of responsiveness. I am optimistic that we have a winnable case.” Simpson said the situation is the same in Glencoe, especially near Sithembile, where a troublesome sewer pump has often led to the polluting of the Sterkstroom and Uithoekspruit.
“The area is also very polluted with litter. Effluent is running next to the high school in Sithembile, which cannot be very healthy and probably impacts on learning and teaching,” Simpson said. Umzinyathi District Municipality has been approached for comment and this will be published once received. Members of the ECRA have called for the public to desist from dumping refuse in vacant plots.

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