MLM speaks on the Ga-Marishane Sports Centre sewage spillage
GA-MARISHANE – Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) indicated that the spillage of the sewerage system into the municipal sporting facility at Ga-Marishane Village was from the nearby school and has nothing to do with the ongoing project.
The municipality was responding to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Limpopo’s last week’s announcement to file a complaint with the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) against the local municipality.
Lemson Moropyane, MLM Spokesperson, said the party’s allegations were without substance and therefore dismissed.
Moropyane said the party failed to do a proper research on the problem before rushing to the media and the public.
He added that the problem was identified even before the construction of the facility and that several attempts to engage the school on the spillage by the municipality yielded no positive results.
“The municipality through the contractor wanted to intervene and assist the school but we received no cooperation. We continued to the school management on the matter with the hope that they will find common ground before completion,” said Moropyane.
He further indicated that the facility has its own proper functioning septic tank on the project and that the project was currently moving towards its second phase where it would include building of a grandstand and parking area.
“The municipality remains fully committed to see through the completion of Marishane Sports Facility towards the uplifment of aspirant athletes and other sporting activities,” said Moropyane.
The DA said that the Marishane Sports Centre, 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.
