Sewage spillage exposes residents to health risks

GA-MARISHANE – The sewage spill at Marishane Sports Complex in Ga-Marishane Village within the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) has led to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Limpopo’s decision to file a complaint with the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) against the local municipality.

The DA indicated that the complex that was completed last year at a cost of over R9 million has a sewage overflow problem that has gone unaddressed to the detriment of residents using the complex and the security guards.

According to the party, the raw sewage flows right under a Marula tree in the complex which is right next to a school in the village.

Suzan Phala, DA Constituency Head for Makhuduthamaga Municipality, said that situation caused an unbearable stench and was a health risk to the neighbouring school, posing a health risk for kids who played close by and for residents visiting the sports complex.

Phala further said that the problem of overflowing sewage at that complex seemed to be because of the fact that there was no proper sewage system and that the facility lacked a septic tank.

“The municipality’s failure to fix the sewage spill infringes on the resident’s right to a healthy and clean environment,” added Phala.

She further indicated that the DA was committed to ensuring residents in communities were not exposed to raw sewage and that the municipality could not continue to put the health and safety of residents at risk.

Lemson Moropyane, MLM Spokesperson, promised to investigate and comment subsequent to that when contacted for comment on the matter on Tuesday, 21 June evening.