Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Carin Visser
The ongoing sewage pollution in Sannieshof is a serious issue that has significant health and environmental consequences due to a failing, outdated system of septic tanks and inadequate maintenance by the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM).
Residents and businesses demand a functional waterborne reticulation system to replace the septic tank system and an urgent investigation into the water quality of aquifers.
The dysfunction of the Ngaka Modiri Molema Water and Sanitation Authority and the Tswaing Local Municipality, which serves as the sanitation service provider, lies at the core of the sewage issue that has swamped Sannieshof. The community is being engulfed by unattended sewage spills that flood properties and homes, caused by their inability to provide a service that meets demand, ultimately harming the residents who are suffering.
There is no effective plan to deliver this essential service. Currently, there are 1,7 mega liters of overflowing septic tanks. NMMDM supplied a tanker truck to remove sewage with a capacity of 6000 liters. At times, a 14,000-liter tanker truck will appear and disappear without contributing to any significance since they are withdrawn from Sannieshof to deliver services elsewhere.
Trucks are not able to resolve the sewer disaster due to inconsistent service delivery, with a backlog for urgent services increasing every week.
Currently, the estimated backlog of urgent service points equals 1,756,000 liters, and increasing by the daily inflow. However, the District is governing in ignorance, not responding to any calls, with no public participation, and no listed plan on the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
Raw, untreated sewage poses significant health and environmental risks. The contamination of untreated sewage by gravitational groundwater movement into private boreholes and submerging the direct environment of residences can lead to the spread of diseases like cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis, and can also contaminate food and vegetable gardens through irrigation.
The wastewater treatment plant built in the watercourse of the Harts River has been dysfunctional since the completion of the plant in 2003.
Several boreholes delivering bulk capacity to Agisanang, Pelhindaba, and Sannieshof were tested in 2017 and found not fit for human consumption due to sewer pollution.
Private boreholes tested in 2009 in Sannieshof were also declared not fit for human consumption due to sewer pollution.
The residents of Sannieshof deserve better. The health and dignity of our people cannot be compromised any longer.