Four men are said to have died after attempts to try and unblock a sewer pipe in that area without the necessary equipment, such as breathing apparatus. According to the Democratic Alliance's (DA) Member of Parliament (MP), Cheryl Phillips, the four allegedly died after they were overcome by sewer gas fumes while trying to repair the pipe. She says the four residents, who are not municipal workers, were not wearing the correct personal protective gear during the incident. 

Phillips says two of the men were declared dead on the scene on Friday while the other two died at the local hospital on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The municipality and the police are yet to respond to OFM News' questions. 

The four men were tragically trapped by a sequence of events as one after the other tried to establish communication with the other. It is alleged that the first person went in and became trapped, which then prompted the second one to go and assist him, then followed the third and the fourth person.

"The municipality denies receiving reports of the blocked drain but community members maintain that they did report it and that the smell was unbearable. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends and wish them strength during this difficult time (because these four) lived and died serving their community. They are local heroes we will celebrate," she further says. 

She adds that the blocked sewerage left an unbearable stench which led to the four men’s desperate attempts to fix it.  

"The tragic deaths of these men are a direct result of the municipality’s failure to render services to the people of Kgetleng River. Service delivery is non-existent, residents are constantly without water supply, refuse collection is erratic, and infrastructure maintenance is also almost non-existent," she further adds. 

Another resident allegedly died last week Wednesday while crossing a road. 

"These deaths come just as Koster was coming to grips with the death of Johan Rossouw, who died after being hit by a vehicle while crossing Rissik Street in Koster. For years, residents have been calling for a four-way stop or speed bumps to be installed at this intersection," Phillips says.

OFM News