The Ekurhuleni Metro has reportedly allowed sewage to be pumped into the Blesbokspruit – an action that may have catastrophic consequences for residents and the environment.
Contract workers for the metro have been pumping sewage from a manhole in Townsend Road, Strubenvale, into a trench which flows directly into the Blesbokspruit.
The workers report they have been doing this for the past two weeks.
Environmentalist Stan Madden accompanied the Addie to the site on Wednesday, where the workers were using a generator and pipe to pump the sewage into the trench.
Madden says the action is unethical and poses a risk to public health.
He accused those responsible of taking a short cut.
It is believed the metro obliged to a request from building contractors of the sludge dam at Grootvlei Shaft Number Three to temporarily close a section of the sewer line at the construction site.
The sewage is being pumped out to avoid it from overflowing.
Springs Afriforum branch member Gert Parsons says he accompanied a metro health inspector to the site on Thursday, who then put a stop to the project.
He claims when he contacted the metro to get more information, he was shocked to discover council approved of the project.
It is believed the metro will block off the trench to prevent any further sewage from flowing into the spruit.
Parsons says the metro claims the trench will be cleaned out and any pollution will be cleaned.
Comment requested from the metro had not been received at the time of publishing.
