Sewage is still spilling into the Greenhills Spruit at various points as it makes its way past the Randfontein Waste Water Treatment Plant and on toward Tarlton and the Tweelopies Spruit.
This despite numerous articles in the Herald, and site visits by municipal officials as well as members from the provincial government.
According to DA Ward Councillor, Peter Dick, he was shocked when, after being promised by the Randfontein Local Municipality that the problem will be sorted out in a week, he showed up at one of the spillage sites nearly three weeks later only to find that nothing has been done.
“This is a very serious problem,” says Dick.
“I have personally reported this problem to the municipality on more than one occasion.
“I even personally escorted municipal officials to the problematic spots and I have been told that the problem will be attended to as a matter of urgency.
“This stream flows through a number of agricultural holdings and into the Tweede Boats Dam, from where it once again flows through agricultural holding on its way to Tarlton.
“There are people living in informal settlements alongside the banks of this stream, who use the water from the stream for washing, and even in some cases for cooking.
“It feels to me as if the Randfontein Local Municipality either does not realise the potential health risks associated with the contaminated water, or that they do not care.
“There have already been reports of fish and livestock dying as a result of the contaminated water, for which they refuse to take responsibility.
“I wonder what they will say when people actually start getting sick?”
Recently the Herald has published a string of articles with regards to the problem as the municipal sewage plant seems to have been dysfunctional for over six months.
“I have personally reported all the problematic sites filled with sewage to the council.
Randfontein municipal spokesperson Lucky Chiya was not available for comment at the time of publishing.
