All is not nearly as well with Randfontein’s waste water treatment systems as the Randfontein Local Municipality would have us believe.
The Herald undertook a tour of some of the problem areas on 5 November and was shocked at the extent of the problem.
Our first port of call was the area near Gold One’s Cooke One plant behind Toekomsrus, where the Herald discovered a beautiful green wetland.
At first glance (from afar and downwind from the vlei) one would be forgiven for not noticing that this is not a natural wetland.
Upon closer inspection though, it becomes clear that the vlei, which is teeming with dozens of species of waterbird including a flock of flamingos, is actually one very large sewage leak.
The erosion caused by the sewage that flows from a non-operational sewerage pump station, which is supposed to pump all the sewage from Toekomsrus to the nearest waste water treatment works, is so severe that one easily could mistake it for a stream or a small river flowing through the area.
It is only when one gets closer and sees the non-functioning pump station hidden behind a clump of trees, and the unnatural colouration of the water in the stream that one begins to suspect that something is amiss.
The smell emanating from the vlei is indescribable.
This is not the first time that the Herald has covered this issue.
After a previous inspection of the site earlier this year, the Randfontein Local Municipality was adamant that they were in the process of fixing the pump station.
They also alleged at the time that the reason for the malfunction of the pump station was human interference.
The municipality alleged that a group of people, who make a living out of fishing out valuables such as rings and necklaces accidentally flushed down toilets from the sewerage system caused the continuous damage to the pump station.
This claim was also investigated by the Herald, but our investigation yielded no results.
Locals were amazed when we asked them about the practice, which according to the municipality is rife in the area, saying that they have never seen or heard anything that could substantiate this claim by the Randfontein Local Municipality.
The Herald has learned that this problem has been continuing since approximately 2002.
A short distance away in Mohlakeng, the Herald was horrified to discover a least three blocked municipal sewerage drains overflowing into a field, which also houses a soccer pitch where local children like to play.
One of these drains is overflowing so badly that the open water is also starting to resemble a stream. Waterbirds discovered this spot and have flocked to the area.
Across the road from the field, the Herald discovered raw sewage running freely between houses and down the street.
Erosion from this leak, which obviously has been running for a long time is so bad that walking along the sidewalk would be impossible as there is no sidewalk left.
The Herald has asked the Randfontein Local Municipality for comment on this issue.
Randfontein municipal spokesperson, Lucky Chiya has undertaken to investigate this issue, saying that he would revert back with detailed comment.
