BETHAL – An unbearable stench greets you when one visits residents in Bosbok and Wildebees Street in Bethal.
A blocked sewer line caused sewage to spill out and eventually flow into the Bethal Dam.
Residents reached out to Ridge Times to report on the matter, however, when we arrived, the sewage problem appeared to have been resolved.
The telltale signs remained of what residents had to endure and they are still living in the aftermath smell.
Mr Johan and Ms Ansie Ackerman said the sewage was spilling into their property for five weeks.
“Our neighbour across the road pointed out that there was water leaking from our property.
“We then learn that it was raw sewage,” said the resident.
Ms Ackerman said a few properties in Bosbok and Wildebees streets were badly affected by the sewage spill. Her biggest concern was that the sewage was heading into the Bethal Dam.
The residents contacted Ms Marie Prinsloo, a health inspector, who, according to the residents, acted quickly.
The residents also said Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, DA councillor at Govan Mbeki Municipality, has also been in contact with the residents and kept them posted on the work progress.
“We hope this matter has been resolved once and for all,” said the resident.
Although the sewage problem has eventually been fixed, according to the residents they were left to clean up the toilet paper and human faeces that spilt into their yard.
The Ackermans have been Bethal residents for the past 40 years. It is depressing for them to see their town going downhill.
“If it is not problems with the power, then it is problems with the water. And if it is not problems with water, then there are problems with the sewage, and then the potholes and so on.”
“What is happening to our town?” asked an emotional Mr Ackerman, who also worked at the municipality in his time.
He said that this uses to be a town to be proud of and had seen its attraction with annual events; however, this has all gone down the drain.
Ms Chamberlain said the problem was found where paving in a nearby complex had been built on top of a manhole.
The current owner of the complex was unaware of this and has given his full cooperation and assistance with his workers to help open the manhole.
She said the paving was lifted and stones were found inside the manhole.
It is still not sure how the previous owner had obtained plans to build over the manhole. She highlighted that the GMM Water and Sanitation team worked tirelessly on the problem.
“Mr Zweli Masuku and his team went all out. I take my hat off to the management and the team.”
“It took cooperation from the owner and working with the GMM Water and Sanitation team to resolve the problem at hand,” said Ms Chamberlain.
With the smell still lingering in the air and telltale signs of green slug along the road, she suggested residents assist with these problems by treating polluted areas with lime powder which can be brought from Afgri or swimming pool chlorine.
