The DA will write to the Manager of Technical Services for the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Wiseman Maluleke, for a clear and reasonable timeline to repair the sewage leaks in Mahonisi village and around the Elim Mall. (See photos here, here and here)
Residents have been living in squalor, stench and the fear of health hazards from the raw sewage for a decade now and despite numerous complaints to VDM, nothing is being done.
Although the Waterval waste water treatment plant is operational, raw sewage spill out of manholes because the underground pipes laid by VDM are too small and cause blockages and bursts.
The quality of life and residents’ health are severely compromised; raw sewage flow in the street which learners use to walk to school, residents complain of flu and diarrhoea and prefer to remain indoors , because of the constant stench outside. The pigs in the village eat the raw effluent which exacerbate the health challenges.
The DA has engaged with VDM for the last 9 years to replace these pipes and fix the spills, two weeks ago empty promises were made again during an oversight to the affected areas.
Unless we receive a reasonable and clear timeline to fix the spills within 7 days, we will lay criminal charges.
The Vhembe District Municipality’s disregard for residents and The Constitution will no longer be tolerated.