Central SA
Raw sewage a health hazard for residents─── HEIDRÈ MALGAS 12:05 Sat, 18 Jun 2022
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State have been up in arms about the sewerage problem in Bloemfontein.
“The main issue stems in Parfitt Avenue close to Victoria Road. The sewerage blockage here has been a recurring problem over the years,” said Tjaart van der Walt, councillor of Ward 23.
He added that when it overflows, the sewage flows down Parfitt to Victoria Road into Donald Murray Avenue and down until Paul Kruger Avenue where it goes into the stormwater drain.
“This means it is raw sewage that ends up in the dams which supply our water,” explains Van der Walt.
He further added that a contractor started with excavations to fix the problem in May, but was not paid for the third month so they stopped working.
“I [asked] the city manager and head of the department (HOD), but the HOD informed me that they were resolving the issue. This was two weeks ago, and it has still not been resolved.
"A few days ago, the sewage started overflowing again,” said Van der Walt.
According to officials, they don’t have materials to fix burst pipes and the contractors are not being paid, stated Van der Walt.
The DA in the Free State has since had a petition out for the community to sign, as they maintain clean water is a basic human right.
