Jeanne Adriaanse, a DA councillor says the party has conducted further oversight in Ventersdorp and the overflow of sewage and the lack of maintenance of the sewerage plants in Ventersdorp and Tshing are putting the lives of residents at risk.
On their visit to the town 40 km away from Potchefstroom, they discovered that the gate to the first sewer plant was not locked, power cables had been damaged and sewage was overflowing.
‘It is a disgrace that the ablution facilities for the guards are out of order and do not even have a door. These guards were also not wearing safety clothing, despite being exposed to the raw sewage. The electrical box was not locked, which not only creates a security risk, it is also a safety hazard.
‘The second plant is situated in close proximity of a wetland and there were no guards on duty. Ironically, the ablution facilities were fully functional,’ she said.
Adriaanse described the revolting sight and smell at the plant as ‘a terrible stench’.
‘Upon investigation of the stream, we found it was actually caused by a blocked drain, spilling its contents into the wetland at a rapid pace and thus contaminating the environment,’ she said.
The DA team visited the third sewage plant in Tshing where they say the area was totally neglected. The children were playing in the sewage spills caused by blocked manholes. ‘According to residents who live a metre away, this is a regular occurrence,’ says Adriaanse. The DA described the situation as a violation of the rights of the Ventersdorp and Tshing residents by the ANC.
In last week’s Herald, the DA shadow minister of water and sanitation, Leon Basson said he intends to lay criminal charges against the J.B. Marks municipal manager and the mayor for allowing residents to live in inhumane, undignified conditions caused by the ongoing sewage spill in Ikageng. The DA says this is also the case in Ventersdorp. ‘We will also lay complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for the violation of residents’ fundamental rights,’ said Addrianse.
‘The only hope for the North West and South Africa is for change and a DA-led government that will work to put the people first by ensuring the delivery and maintenance of quality services,’ she said.
**At the time of print, neither the mayoral spokesperson nor the council spokesperson had responded to our media enquiries.
