The FF Plus has sounded the alarm over a sewage overflow at the municipality’s customer service centre, while the DA has called for a public protector investigation into alleged nepotism in a municipal construction contract. A warning was sent to residents on Wednesday (29/10) to avoid the municipality’s customer service centre located on the ground floor of the OK building in Vanderbijlpark. 

This comes after the parking area was flooded with sewage, causing unbearable odours and rendering the premises unhygienic and inaccessible. Since the municipality began renting the building, there have already been seven similar incidents, three of which happened this year, the FF Plus confirmed.

“The incident has caused an unbearable stench, rendering the parking area and building both unhealthy and inaccessible,” said FF Plus Emfuleni Cllr Gerda Senekal. “The matter has not been resolved yet.

“The FF Plus has already notified the authorities and requested that the issue receive urgent attention. Several residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the FF Plus on Wednesday.

“Officials working in the building have filed a formal complaint with the Gauteng provincial government and the Emfuleni department of environmental health.

Immediate evacuation

“Each time, repairs and cleaning operations take place, yet the building’s air conditioning system remains non-functional, further worsening the situation. The municipality pays R1.3 million per month to rent the four-storey building, which houses several departments.”

The municipality’s occupational health and safety office ordered an immediate evacuation of the office and notified the landlord, said municipal spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni.

“The matter was further referred to Metsi-a-Lekoa for attention. A team was dispatched to unblock the main line.”

Meanwhile, the DA in Gauteng has filed a formal complaint with the public protector, calling for an urgent investigation into alleged nepotism and conflicts of interest surrounding a pavement construction project at the Levai Mbatha clinic community health centre.

The party alleged the main contractor, Mox Trading, subcontracted portions of the project to Lithole Trading and Starish and Monotsi Construction, and two workers on the project, Bushy Masangane and Katleho Masangane, are the husband and son of Emfuleni speaker, Cllr Sibongile Soxuza.

“It is concerning that Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has not addressed our concerns regarding the handling of the Levai Mbatha pavement contract, despite our submission of a memorandum demanding an internal investigation,” said DA Emfuleni North constituency head Kingsol Chabalala.

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh