A cracked manhole outside Monash University in Ruimsig caused an environmental disaster over December when it leaked sewage into streams connecting to the Crocodile river.
Ruimsig residents living next to the river were forced to deal not only with the stench of sewage flowing down the river, but also dead fish washing up on river banks due to poisoning.
“It was horrible,” said a Cypress Road resident, who preferred not to be named. “Our river, which has always been crystal clear and safe, was suddenly turned into a mucky, filthy brown. We were pulling dead fish out of the river left, right and centre.”
Councillor Jaco Engelbrecht, of Ward 97 was made aware of the issue and immediately took action, with the aid of Rand Water. “We traced the pollution to the broken manhole on Peter Road,” said Engelbrecht. “It has been fixed and measures have now been put in place to see that the sewage does not find its way to the Crocodile river again any time soon.”
