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Matjhabeng municipality is drowning under sewerage and is seemingly forgotten by the local municipality. Since 2016, Welkom's sewerage problem has progressed from a leak in Rheeder Park to the collapse of infrastructure in several neighbourhoods throughout the municipality.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where sewerage running down the street has become the norm. For years, multiple DA ward councillors, Abby Schoeman and Werner Janse van Rensburg, have highlighted every sewerage leak and broken pipe, with no response from the local municipality. Toilets overflowing, sewerage spills in yards, and children walking through sewerage puddles on their way to school can be found on every street and corner.

One simple example is Rheeder Park in Ward 34. The community have experienced poor to no service delivery and no solutions from the municipality for the major issues that affect the day-to-day quality of life of the residents. Sewerage, dumping and lack of service delivery, as well as crime run rampant in the neighbourhood. The community has by no means welcomed the status quo but due to the lack of grass cutting, proper street lights, and the absence of refuse collection the community has almost given up.

The DA will approach the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) to intervene in the municipality as they are failing to resolve the sewerage crisis faced by the community. Additionally, we will ensure that the crisis is tabled in every future council meeting. The municipality has to be held responsible for the collapse of infrastructure and lack of governance.

Issued by Abby Schoeman - DA Councillor Matjhabeng Municipality