Potchefstroom branch warns municipality about consequences it faces over raw sewage in residential complexes

The AfriForum branch in Potchefstroom has today written to the JB Marks Local Municipality about the consequences it will have to face if urgent attention is not given to the serious sewage leak along Parys Avenue in Ballie Park. The manholes in the area have been causing problems for some time, as sewage regularly bubbles out of them and even seeps into the adjacent residential complexes. The situation is so bad that even houses are flooded by the sewage.

In its letter, AfriForum pointed out to the Municipality that it’s illegal to allow something like this to continue to happen, as it poses major health risks for the residents in that area. Upon further investigation, AfriForum found that there is a contractor on the scene to deal with the leaks, but the work is at a standstill because the team is apparently waiting for directives from a manager. The civil rights organisation has requested that the Municipality delegate these instructions so that the repairs can be done.

The AfriForum branch has given the Municipality until Friday 15 November to take steps that will lead to the solution of the problem, otherwise AfriForum will be forced to take legal action against the Municipal Manager.

“This dire situation once again illustrates the incompetence and unwillingness of the Municipality to effectively act on crises. Residents cannot be expected to live in raw sewage – this in any case violates residents’ rights and will not be tolerated by AfriForum,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooiriver.

Get involved with Potchefstroom’s AfriForum branch today. Contact Leandra Rootman on 073 886 3520 to join the branch or visit www.wordlid.co.za for more information.