No action has yet been taken by Makana municipality to address the widespread of sewage spills currently covering large parts of Grahamstown.
No action has yet been taken by Makana municipality to address the widespread of sewage spills currently covering large parts of Grahamstown.
This follows a stern warning issued a fortnight ago by officials of the National Department of Water Affairs (DWA).
The municipality was ordered to come up with an action plan for permanently addressing the problem and had until Friday last week to do so.
Grocott's Mail took to the streets earlier this week and was shocked to discover that yet more areas are flooded with sewage.
At Thatha Location in Extension 1, a pump station is spilling large volumes of sewage into a graveyard.
Destroying graves in its path, it trickles down to join another spill from a pump station below the graveyard. It then pools in front of houses in Zolani Location – an informal settlement in the valley.
Nombuyiselo Majombozi, 60, whose home is on the bank of the creek, said she's even put off eating by the stench.
Loyiso Lwana is worried about their animals. "My donkeys, as well as my neighbour's cattle, graze here on this grass which is covered with sewage and I'm really worried because these are the same cattle that are slaughtered for traditional ceremonies."
Ward 3 committee member Mxolisi Makeleni claims that when the community complained about the pollution to their ward councillor Marcelle Booysen, she told them to dismantle their houses and rebuild in a cleaner place.
Booysen had reportedly said she did not have faith on the municipality to address the problem any time soon. After several requests, Makana Municipality and the department failed to produce evidence of any action plan.
