Following an article published in the Addie, ‘Residents protest Dersley sewage dam,’, Maré Buchner, who is a member of the Dersley Community Association, says nothing has been done and they have taken to drastic measures.
“We have asked Anton Deysel, head of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sanitation Department, to meet with us at the spot so he can see for himself what is going on,” she says.
The crowd gathered again on Saturday where they met Deysel, who then addressed the community.
“We have spent thousands and thousands of rands attempting to repair this problem,” he says.
He explains it is not just about jetting the line, but sending people down the manhole to remove the rubbish.
“The line is currently running 100% as we cleaned it yesterday,” says Deysel, “but the problem will most likely re-occur in the following days.”
He adds they have contacted a contractor to cast special manhole covers weighing at around one ton each. These covers don’t just cover the manhole but a large piece also fits into the opening.
“We have tested this possibility in Daggafontein and it seems as if it is working, as the covers are too heavy and there is not enough manpower to lift it,” he says.
“It’s a whole process, it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Deysel says if this does not work, they will permanently close the manholes.
He also says the problem persists due to the illegal miners blocking the lines with whatever they can find to re-route the water pressure to their operation.
The residents do not agree with this and say the problem has been present for more than 10 years, long before the illegal miners came to the area.
There are 21 manholes in the area, right up to Dersley dam.
The community is also worried the sewage is going into the dam and their drinking water, posing a massive health risk.
Deysel says they will start placing the manhole covers on Wednesday.
“We will then, if the problem is sorted, scrape the area and put the necessary chemicals on the ground,” he says.
Buchner says they have reported this problem incessantly for the past three years and wants to know why it has tako taken three years for something to be done.
“Why do we have to take drastic measures first before attention is given to the problem?”
Deysel agreed with this and added that something definitely has to be done now.
Another community member says if by the end of the year the problem is still persisting, they want council to put in new, bigger lines to handle the amount of sewage.
