MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The recent burst of a sewage pipe along the Bray Road is a stark reminder of the poor workmanship and infrastructure challenges plaguing the Phola and Ramosadi Village communities.
Despite a repair effort which reportedly cost over R65 million, the pipe has failed once again, unleashing a torrent of raw sewage into homes and the environment.
This recurring issue raises serious questions about the quality of work done by the contractors and the long-term sustainability of the solutions implemented.
The sewage pipe bursts have become a significant health hazard for local residents, as the sewage has been flowing into their homes, causing damage to property and posing a serious risk to the health for those living in the area.
Blockages caused by the sewage have restricted movement and access to certain areas making daily life a challenge for residents. The most distressing factor has been the terrible stench emanating from the sewage.
The repeated failure of the sewage pipe highlights a systemic problem and poor workmanship that goes beyond the means of properly repairing the sewage pipe. This has highlighted the broader issue of infrastructure neglect, inadequate maintenance and a lack of investment in critical infrastructure.
The fact that a pipe that has been decaying for over 50 years, but was not replaced or upgraded, is proof of the lack of foresight and planning in the district municipality infrastructure development plans.
Furthermore, the spillage has alos been witnessed in some parts of Mahikeng, in front of the Cooks Lake entrance gate, which raised the alarm on the possibility that the spillage might affect a bigger area.
Residents who spoke to Mahikeng Mail reacted, “We deserve better. We deserve a safe and healthy living environment free from the risks posed by this sewage spillage. Previously, the municipality took a long time to fix these pipes while our lives and belongings were still being damaged by raw sewage spills.
“It’s time for our leaders to take responsibility and we demand speedy intervention that will permanently fix this challenge as we are not planning to go through what we went through during previous years.”
Contractors from the municipality have had their hands full attempting to stop the spillage which uncontrollably flooded residential houses.
