Major sewer blockages in Bekkersdal are caused by ‘illegal acts’ of ‘sabotaging service delivery’,” the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) said on Friday.
According to Tshidiso Tlharipe, RWCLM spokesperson, “We have noted with disgust the efforts by labourers of a company known to us to deliberately flood the sewer line with sand and stones. The reason they give for the act is that they want us to employ them permanently.”
He said firstly, the municipality is not in a financial position to employ these labourers.
Secondly, these labourers are contracted by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements to improve the sewer lines of Bekkersdal and the labourers have a contract with a certain company, but not with us.
“Thirdly, no expectations were raised by the municipality that the labourers of this company will be permanently employed and hence we wonder why they use their employment at this company to sabotage service delivery.”
Thlaripe added that the flooding of the sewer lines has led to the line between the Spooktown and Mandela informal settlements not functioning.
“Major blockages in households in Bekkersdal are caused by these senseless acts and have led to municipal officials being denied the right by labourers of this company to unblock the lines and service the needs of the community. However, the municipality has made arrangements with the police to monitor these illegal acts and measures are being considered in this regard.
“We appeal to community members to desist from supporting such illegal acts. We urge them to support the municipality’s initiatives to address the matter.”
